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VETERANS 


OF  THE 


SEVENTH   REGIMENT, 

NATIONAL  GUARD  S,  N.  T? 


•  •;  •  •::•  ., 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 


V.*:- 


. 
•  4' 


°\ 


Veterans 

of  the 

SEVENTH  REGIMENT, 

NATIONAL  GUARD,  S.  N.  Y. 


\ 


UA 


1BB4 


INTRODUCTION. 

•  c\°[ 



In  consequence  of  an  extra  official  statement  of  several  offi- 
cers of  the  1st  and  2d  Divisions,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.,  which  ap- 
peared in  the  Press  of  the  City  of  New  York,  and  in  printed 
£  circulars,  on  February  19,  1884,  and  which  was  calculated  to 
'  very  much  misrepresent  the  character,  objects,  and  statutory 
2c    rights  and  privileges  of  the  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regiment, 

DC 

"    N.   G.    S.  N.  Y.,   as   a   chartered   independent    military    or- 
ganization in  the  reserve  militia  of  the  State ;  the  facts  con- 

§!     tained  in  the  following  pages  are,  by  direction  of  the 
in 

VETERANS   OF  THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT 

NATIONAL  GUARD  S.  N.  Y., 
published  for  the  information  of  all  concerned. 
$  L.  W.  WINCHESTER,  Colonel  and  Chairman, 

CHAS.  ROOME, 
WILLIAM  A.  DARLING, 
JACKSON  S.  SCHULTZ, 
<  WILLIAM  A.  POND, 

WILLIAM  H.  MONTANYE, 
HENRY  H.  HOLLY, 

Committee. 

NEW  YORK,  April  2,  1884. 


458359 


OFFICERS 

OF  THE  VETERANS   OF   THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT 
NATIONAL    GUARD  S.  N.  Y. 

APRIL  1860  TO  APRIL  1861. 

Colonel  John  M.  Catlin.* 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Morgan  L.  Smith. 
Major  James  B.  Wilson. 
Adjutant  Asher  Taylor. 
Quartermaster  E.  T.  Backhouse. 
Paymaster  Thomas  M.  Adriance. 
Commissary  Aaron  Kemp. 
Chaplain,  Rev.  Samuel  D.  Denison. 
Captain  Wright  F.  Conger. 
Captain  Joseph  M.  Cooper. 
Captain  J.  L.  Everitt. 
Captain  Wm.  H.  Curtis. 
Captain  Edward  A.  Lambert. 
Captain  Cyrus  H.  Loutrel. 
Captain  Henry  Meigs,  Jr. 
Captain  David  T.  Valentine. 
Lieutenant  Jackson  S.  Schultz. 
Lieutenant  Washington  Durbrow. 
Lieutenant  John  Armstrong. 
Lieutenant  John  M.  Davis. 
Lieutenant  Lewis  H.  Watts. 
Lieutenant  Linus  W.  Stevens. 
Lieutenant  Theodore  W.  Todd. 
Lieutenant  George  G.  Waters. 


*  Linus  W.  Stevens  succeeded  Col.  John  M.  Catlin  as  Colonel  of  the  Veterans,  April,  1861. 


OFFICERS 

OF   THE   VETERANS   OF  THE    SEVENTH  REGIMENT, 
NATIONAL  GUARD  S.  N.  Y. 

APRIL  1883  TO  APRIL  1884. 

COLONEL  LOCKE  W.   WINCHESTER, 
LIEUT.-COLONEL  CHARLES  B.  BOSTWICK. 
MAJOR  JOHN  H.  KEMP. 
ADJUTANT  HENRY  L.  FREELAND. 
SURGEON  T.  M.  CHEESMAN,  M.D. 
ASST.  SURGEON  J.  C.  BARRON,  M.D. 
QUARTERMASTER  HENRY  H.  HOLLY. 
PAYMASTER  EDWARD  A.  KINGSLAND. 
COMMISSARY  EDWARD  KEMP. 
CHAPLAIN  REV.  J.  TUTTLE  SMITH,  D.D. 

Captains.  Lieutenants. 

HENRY  I.  HAYDEN JOHN  T.  BAKER. 

JOHN  C.  GIFFING RICHARD  L.  SALISBURY. 

JOHN  W.  MURRAY HENRY  W.  T.  MALI. 

WILLIAM  H.  RIBLET LORENZO  G.  WOODHOUSE. 

WILLIAM  A.  SPEAIGHT .CHARLES  L.  FLEMING. 

EDWARD  O.  BIRD FREDERICK  A.  GOODWIN. 

LYMAN   TIFFANY WILLIAM  MOORES. 

HENRY  C.  SHUMWAY JOHN  W.   SPICER 

EDWARD  G.  ARTHUR W.  GAYER  DOMINICK. 

JAMES  RAY..  ..DAVID  CROCKER. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  CHARTER  AND  AMENDMENTS. 

AN  ACT  to   Incorporate   the   Veterans   of  the   National   Guard, 
Seventh  Regiment,  First  Division,  New  York  State  Militia. 
Passed  March  11,  1861. 


The  People  of  the  State  of  Neiv  York,  represented  in  Senate  and 
Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows  : 

Section  1. — Linus  W.  Stevens,  Morgan  L.  Smith,  John  M.  Catlin, 
Washington  R.  Vermilye,  Andrew  A.  Bremner,  Abram  Duryee, 
Marshall  LefTerts,  Philetus  H.  Holt,  Charles  Roome,  Henry  Meigs, 
Jr.,  Cyrus  H.  Loutrel,  John  H.  Brower,  Asher  Taylor,  Thomas  M. 
Adriance,  David  T.  Valentine,  Edward  A.  Lambert,  James  B.  Wil- 
son, Samuel  D.  Denison,  Theodore  W.  Todd,  William  Ever  dell,  and 
such  other  persons  as  now  are  associated  as  the  Veterans  of  the 
National  Guard,  or  may  hereafter  become  associated  with  them,  are 
hereby  constituted  a  body  corporate  by  the  name  of  "  The  Veterans 
of  the  National  Guard." 

Sec.  2. — The  objects  of  said  corporation  are  to  afford  pecuniary  relief 
to  indigent  or  reduced  members,  and  their  widows  and  children ;  to 
promote  social  union  and  fellowship,  and  preserve  and  continue  the 
recollections  of  service  in  the  National  Guard. 

Sec.  3. — The  said  corporation  shall  have  power  to  make  and  adopt 
a  Constitution  and  By-Laws,  Rules  and  Regulations,  for  the  admis- 
sion of  members,  and  their  government,  the  election  of  officers  and 
their  duties,  the  suspending  or  expelling  of  members,  and  for  the 
safe-keeping  of  its  property  and  funds,  and  from  time  to  time  to  alter 
or  repeal  such  Constitution,  By-Laws,  Rules,  and  Regulations.  The 
present  officers  shall  hold  their  respective  offices  until  others  are 
chosen  in  their  places. 


Sec.  6. — This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 


CHAPTER  314. 

AN  ACT  to  amend  Chapter  Forty-one  of  the  Laws  of  eighteen  hun- 
dred and  sixty-one,  entitled  "  An  Act  to  Incorporate  the 
Veterans  of  the  National  Guard,  Seventh  Regiment,  First 
Division,  New  York  State  Militia." 

Passed  May  23,  1878. 

The  People  of  the  Slate  of  New  York,  represented  in  Senate  and 
Assembly,  do  enact  asfolloivs: 

Section  1.  Section  1  of  Chapter  forty-one  of  the  laws  of  eighteen 
hundred  and  sixty-one,  entitled  "  An  Act  to  Incorporate  the  Veterans 
of  the  National  Guard,  Seventh  Regiment,  First  Division,  New 
York  State  Militia,"  is  hereby  amended  to  read  as  follows : 

Sec.  1.  Linus  W.  Stephens,  Morgan  L.  Smith,  John  M.  Catlin, 
Washington  R.  Vermilye,  and  such  other  persons  as  now  are  associ- 
ated as  the  Veterans  of  the  National  Guard,  or  may  hereafter  become 
associated  with  them,  are  hereby  constituted  a  body  corporate  by  the 
name  of  "  The  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y." 

Sec.  2.  This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 


THE  BENEVOLENT  FUND  OF  THE  VETERANS  OF 
THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y. 

CHAPTER  89. 

AN  ACT  to  amend  Chapter  Forty-one  of  the  Laws  of  eighteen 
hundred  and  sixty-one,  entitled,  "  An  Act  to  Incorporate  the 
Veterans  of  the  National  Guard,  Seventh  Regiment,  First 
Division,  New  York  State  Militia." 

Passed  April  gth,  1882,  three-fourths  being  present. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York,  represented  in  Senate  and 
Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows  : 

Section   i. — Section  Four  of  Chapter   Forty-one  of  the  Laws  of 
eighteen  hundred  and  ^sixty-one,  entitled,  "  An  Act  to  Incorporate 


the  Veterans  of  the  National  Guard,  Seventh  Regiment,  First 
Division,  New  York  State  Militia,"  is  hereby  amended  to  read  as 
follows  : 

Section  4. — The  said  Corporation  may  purchase  and  hold  real 
or  personal  estate,  and  is  authorized  to  accumulate  a  fund  for  the 
pecuniary  relief  of  indigent  and  reduced  members,  and  of  their 
widows  and  children,  to  be  called  the  "  Benevolent  Fund  of  the 
Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y,"  and  said  Fund 
shall  be  administered  by  Officers  of  said  Association,  who  shall  be 
the  Colonel,  Paymaster,  and  Chaplain  of  said  Association,  as  Trust- 
ees. The  said  Fund  shall  be  invested  in  the  manner  required  by 
law  for  the  investment  of  trust  funds,  and  no  more  than  its  income 
shall  be  used  or  disbursed  in  any  one  year.  Additions  to  the 
said  Fund  may  be  made  by  appropriations  from  the  said  Associa- 
tion, by  donation,  and  by  legacies  and  devises  to  the  said  Associa- 
tion, which  it  is  hereby  authorized  to  receive  and  apply  in  the  man- 
ner aforesaid. 

This  Act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE   CONSTITUTION. 


ARTICLE  I. 

OFFICERS. 

The  officers  of  the  Association  shall  be  a  Colonel,  Lieut.-Colonel, 
Major,  Adjutant,  Quartermaster,  Paymaster,  Chaplain,  Commissary, 
Surgeon,  ten  Captains  and  ten  Lieutenants,  who  shall  constitute  a 
Board  of  Management,  and  who  shall  conduct  the  affairs  of  the 
Association. 

The  said  Colonel,  Lieut.-Colonel,  Major,  Adjutant  and  Paymaster 
shall  respectively  be  ex-officio  President,  first  and  second  Vice-Presi- 
dents,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

All  officers  shall  hold  office  for  two  years. 


ARTICLE  IV. 

Section  1.  Any  person  who  shall  have  received  an  honorable  dis- 
charge, or  become  entitled  thereto,  from  the  former  Twenty-seventh, 
present  Seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.,  having  served  therein 
the  full  term  required  by  law  at  the  date  of  his  enlistment  (seven 
years  under  the  old  law,  or  five  years  under  the  present  law),  or  who, 
being  a  member  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.,  may  have 
entered  the  Army  or  Navy  of  the  United  States  during  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion,  and  been  honorably  discharged  from  such  service,  or 
who  may  remain  in  the  Army  or  Navy  of  the  United  States,  shall  be 
eligible  to  membership  in  this  Association. 

ARTICLE  V. 

UNIFORMED  BATTALION. 

The  Uniformed  Battalion,  as  organized  by  this  Association,  shall 
consist  of  such  members  as  shall  have  uniformed  and  subscribed  to 
its  by-laws. 


8 

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  THE  INTRODUCTION  WHICH 

APPEARED  IN  THE  PRESS,  AND  IN  CIRCULARS, 

ON  FEBRUARY  19TH,  1884. 


A     STATEMENT     OF     THE 

Reasons  why  regiments  of  the  National  Guard  S.  N.  Y.  should  not 
allow  their  names  and  numerical  designations  to  be  used  by  any  UNI- 
FORMED battalions,  organizations  or  associations. 

I. — The  practical  result  of  the  existence  of  uniformed 
organizations  bearing  the  names  and  numerical  designations  of 
regiments  of  the  National  Guard  has  been  to  induce  young  men, 
who  would  otherwise  continue  to  perform  active  military  duty 
in  the  National  Guard,  to  take  their  discharge  from  the  service 
of  the  State  to  join  the  uniformed  veteran  battalions.  For  this 
reason  the  extraordinary  efforts  to  make  such  uniformed  battalions 
attractive  by  expensive  and  showy  uniforms,  by  parades  and  ex- 
cursions, and  by  other  festivities,  is  a  positive  detriment  to  the 
National  Guard,  and  the  existence  of  such  uniformed  veteran 
battalions  has  become  a  standing  menace  to  the  strength  and 
welfare  of  the  regiments  whose  names  they  have  assumed. 

II. — The  names  and  numerical  designations  of  the  National 
Guard  regiments  have  been  assumed  and  used  by  the  uniformed 
veteran  battalions  without  the  authority  of  the  regiments  or  of 
their  officers,  and  have  of  late  been  carried  upon  parades  and  ex- 
cursions and  to  balls  and  dinners,  in  this  and  other  States.  Those 
who  are  charged  by  law  with  the  maintenance  of  the  good  name 
of  any  regiment  should  not  be  held  responsible  for  the  conduct  of 
those  over  whom  they  have  no  control  ;  but  so  long  as  any  uni- 
formed battalion  bears  the  name  of  a  National  Guard  regiment, 
such  regiment  will  be  held  responsible  by  the  public  for  any  want 
of  discipline  in  such  uniformed  battalion,  and  for  the  unsoldierly 
and  ungentlemanly  conduct  of  any  of  its  members  while  in  uni- 
form. Would  any  business  man  allow  his  name  or  the  name  of 
his  firm,  or  would  any  corporation  allow  its  name  to  be  used  by 
persons,  however  respectable,  who  are  not  responsible  to  or  sub- 
ject to  the  orders  of  such  firm  or  corporation  ?  And  yet  the 
National  Guard  regiments  have  quietly  submitted  to  the  assump- 
tion and  use  of  their  names  and  numbers  by  those  who  were  once 


9 

members  of  these  regiments,  but  who  are  no  longer  held  to  any 
duty  therein,  and  are  not  responsible  for  their  present  character 
and  welfare. 

III. — An  important  objection  to  the  use  of  the  names  and 
numerical  designations  of  the  National  Guard  regiments  by  the 
uniformed  veteran  battalions,  is  the  fact  that  such  organizations 
assume  and  use  in  an  official  manner,  and  upon  parades  and 
public  occasions,  the  military  insignia  and  the  military  titles 
which  belong  only  to  officers  who  hold  or  have  held  commissions 
in  the  regular  or  volunteer  service  of  the  United  States,  or  in  the 
National  Guard  and  militia  of  the  several  States.  It  is  fair  to 
presume  that  military  titles  are  of  some  value  to  those  who  have 
won  them  on  the  battle-field,  or  by  long  and  faithful  service  in 
the  regular  army  or  the  National  Guard  ;  but  in  these  uniformed 
veteran  battalions  military  titles  are  thoughtlessly  assumed,  and 
are  officially  and  publicly  used  by  persons  who  have  never  held 
commissions  that  entitled  them  to  such  titles,  rank  and  distinc- 
tion. It  is  noticeable  that  in  organizations  of  the  veterans  of  the 
late  war  this  abuse  does  not  exist,  and  military  titles,  gallantly 
earned,  are  duly  respected,  and  they  are  not  assumed  by  those 
who  have  never  legally  held  them.  When  the  attention  of 
honorable  men  is  called  to  the  fact  that,  by  assuming  and  using 
military  titles  to  which  they  have  no  right,  a  great  injustice  is 
done  to  those  who  have  held  or  now  hold  military  commissions, 
it  can  hardly  be  supposed  that  the  practice  will  be  continued. 
'.IV. — The  unauthorized  wearing  of  military  uniforms  by  organ- 
izations not  a  part  of  the  United  States  Army  or  of  the  National 
Guard,  and  not  vecerans  of  the  late  war,  depreciates  the  character 
and  reputation  of  all  military  service  and  is  an  affront  to  all, 
whether  officers  or  privates,  who  are  held  by  law  to  the  military 
service  of  the  State  or  the  Nation.  Men  of  mature  years  who 
leave  their  business  to  parade  the  public  streets  with  music  and 
banners,  and  decked  out  with  sword,  chapeau  and  feathers,  or 
who  consent  to  appear  in  public  in  other  than  the  ordinary  attire 
of  the  citizen  and  the  gentleman,  should  surely  have  some  sub- 
stantial reason  or  some  manly  and  noble  object  to  justify  them  in 
so  doing  and  to  secure  themselves  from  public  ridicule.  Such  an 
object  is  apparent  in  the  parades  of  the  National  Guard  and  of 
the  veterans  of  former  wars,  and  is  claimed  to  exist  in  the  parades 


10 

of  some  benevolent,  Masonic,  and  other  societies.  Even  boys  at 
school  wear  military  uniforms  without  objection,  because  it  con- 
tributes to  their  discipline  and  physical  improvement.  But  what 
reason,  excuse  or  apology  can  there  be  for  the  parade  or  public 
appearance  in  ostentatious  military  uniform  of  the  ex-members  of 
a  militia  organization  who  are  legally  exempt  from  military  duty, 
who  are  not  organized  for  the  defense  of  the  city,  the  State,  or  the 
country,  and  who  have  no  well-recognized  and  generally  approved 
object  for  semi-military  parade  or  fantastic  display. 

V.  —The  uniformed  "  veteran  "  battalions  should  not  be  allowed 
to  use  the  names  and  numerical  designations  of  National  Guard 
regiments,  because  the  assumption  of  the  name  of  "  veteran  "  by 
the  very  young  men  who  publicly  appear  in  the  uniform  of  such 
battalions  is  discourteous  to  the  gallant  veterans  of  the  last  war,  as 
well  as  to  those  who  by  long  and  distinguised  service  in  the 
National  Guard  and  by  mature  years,  may  be  fairly  entitled  to 
that  designation.  To  be  eligible  to  wear  the  regalia  of  these 
uniformed  "  veteran  "  battalions,  it  is  only  necessary  to  perform 
five  years  of  indifferent  service  in  the  militia  of  the  State,  and  at 
the  age  of  twenty-three  years  young  men  may,  and  sometimes  do, 
lay  aside  the  modest  uniform  of  the  private  soldier  in  the  National 
Guard  in  exchange  for  the  chapeau  and  sword  and  uniform  of  a 
general  officer,  and  parade  in  public  as  "veterans."  It  is  clearly 
the  duty  of  the  National  Guard  regiments  to  protect  the 
"veterans"  of  the  war,  as  well  as  the  real  "veterans"  of  the 
National  Guard,  from  the  ridicule  which  this  abuse  brings  upon 
that  distinguished  and  honorable  title. 

Associations  of  the  exempt  and  veteran  members  of  the  National 
Guard  regiments  for  benevolent  and  social  purposes,  and  to 
cherish  and  preserve  pleasant  memories  of  the  service,  are  uni- 
versally approved,  and  have  the  hearty  sympathy  and  support  of 
every  officer  and  member  serving  in  the  National  Guard  ;  and 
every  man  who  has  faithfully  served  his  term  of  enlistment  should 
be  proud  to  be  a  member  of  such  an  association.  It  is  only  the 
uniformed  battalions,  composed  of  exempt  members  of  the 
National  Guard,  that  are  no  credit  but  a  positive  detriment  to  the 
regiments  whose  names  and  numerical  designations  they,  without 
authority,  assume  and  use. 


11 

The  undersigned,  commandants  of  regiments  of  the  National 
Guard  S.  N.  Y.,  approve  of  the  above  statement,  and  recommend 
that  the  use  of  the  names  and  numerical  designations  of  regiments 
by  uniformed  battalions,  organizations  or  associations  be  prohibited. 

(Signed) 

EMMONS  CLARK,  Colonel  Seventh  Regiment. 
GEORGE  D.  SCOTT,  Colonel  Eighth  Regiment. 
WM.  SEWARD,  Jr.,  Colonel  Ninth  Regiment. 
FREDERICK  UNBEKANT,  Colonel  Eleventh  Regiment. 
JAMES  H.  JONES,  Colonel  Twelfth  Regiment. 
JAMES  McLsER,  Colonel  Fourteenth  Regiment. 
JOSIAH  PORTER,  Colonel  Twenty-second  Regiment. 
RODNEY  C.  WARD,  Colonel  Twenty-third  Regiment. 
Louis  FINKELMEIER,  Colonel  Thirty-second  Regiment. 
TRUMAN  V.  TUTTLE,  Colonel  Forty-seventh  Regiment. 
JAMES  CAVANAGH,  Colonel  Sixty-ninth  Regiment. 
RICHARD  VOSE,  Colonel  Seventy-first  Regiment. 

The  undersigned,  General  officers  of  the  National  Guard 
S.  N.  Y.,  approve  of  the  above  recommendation  of  commandants 
of  regiments. 

(Signed) 

ALEXANDER  SHALER,    Major-General    Commanding   First 

Division. 
VV.     G.     WARD.     Brigadier-General     Commanding    First 

Brigade. 
Louis  FITZGERALD,  Brigadier-General  Commanding  Second 

Brigade. 
C.    T.    CHRISTENSEN,    Brigadier-General   Third    Brigade, 

Commanding  Second  Division. 
WILLIAM   H.  BROWNELL,  Brigadier-General   Commanding 

Fourth  Brigade. 

Dated  New  York  and  Brooklyn,  February,  1884. 


12 

NEW  YORK,  March  3,  1884. 
MAJOR-GENERAL  ALEXANDER  SEALER, 

NEW  YORK  : 
GENERAL — 

I  have  concluded,  after  mature  consideration,  to  withdraw 
my  signature  from  the  statement  published  some  days  since, 
affecting  the  uniformed  battalions  of  the  National  Guard.  In 
the  hasty  perusal  of  the  paper  when  presented  to  me  for  sig- 
nature I  failed  to  properly  weigh  the  harsh  expressions,  un- 
just aspersions,  and  unmerited  rebuke  contained  therein.  I 
feel  that  by  my  action  I  have  inflicted  deep  wounds  upon  those 
I  consider  it  an  honor  to  call  friends,  and  this  being  repug- 
nant to  my  soldierly  instincts,  leads  me  to  ask  that  my  signa- 
ture be  stricken  from  the  paper  in  question.  I  have  the  honor 
to  be,  very  respectfully, 

WILLIAM  SEWARD  Jr., 
Colonel  Ninth  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y. 

HEADQUARTERS  TWENTY-THIRD  REGIMENT,  ) 
March  8,  1884,  f 

SIR:  In  reply  to  the  resolutions  adopted  by  your  association 
February  21,  relative  to  my  action  in  signing  a  circular  depre- 
cating the  wearing  of  uniforms  by  exempt  members  of  the 
National  Guard  and  the  assumption  of  military  titles  and  in- 
signia of  rank  by  the  officers  of  the  Uniformed  Veteran  Bat- 
talion, such  officers  not  being  commissioned  by  the  State."  I 
have  to  reply,  that,  while  conceding  that  courtesy  would 
seem  to  demand  that  the  responsible  heads  of  the  Uniformed 
Veteran  Battalion  should  have  been  notified  of  the  contem- 
plated action  of  the  signers  of  the  document  in  question  pre- 
vious to  its  being  given  to  the  public  through  the  medium  of 
the  press,  I  feel  that  I  cannot  consistently  or  honorably  with- 
draw rny  signature  therefrom  or  recede  from  the  position 
taken  by  me. 

A.  careful  consideration  of  the  document  convinces  me  upon 
reflection  that  it  contains  statements  which  do  not  apply  to 
the  Veteran  Battalion  of  the  Twenty-third  Eegiment,  unwar- 
rantable expressions,  that  I  should  insist  upon  having  ex- 
punged before  signature,  were  the  matter  again  to  be  submit- 
ted to  me.  My  action  was  entirely  free  from  any  personal 
feeling  and  purely  of  an  official  character  as  the  commanding 
officer  of  the  Twenty-third  Kegiment.  Respectfully, 

RODNEY  C.  WARD. 
To  FREDRICK  H.  RAND,  Secretary. 


13 


NEW  YORK,  February   20,   1884. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Management  of  the  Veterans  of  the 
Seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.,  held  this  day,  the  following  was 
unanimously  adopted : 

Whereas,  the  Constitution  of  the  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regi- 
ment, N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.,  provides  in  Article  5  fora  Uniformed  Battalion 
•  within  its  membership,  and  whereas  the  propriety  of  the  adoption  of 
said  Article  has  been  assailed,  as  being  detrimental  to  the  welfare  of 
the  National  Guard,  in  a  printed  circular,  with  the  name  of  Col. 
Emmons  Clark,  Commanding  the  Seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y., 
as  its  leading  signer. 

Therefore,  be  it  resolved  that  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  inves- 
tigate the  matter,  and  report  at  a  meeting  of  the  Association,  at  as 

early  a  day  as  practicable. 

H.  L.  FREELAND, 

Adjutant  and  Ex-officio  Secretary. 

COLONEL  WINCHESTER'S  REPLY  TO  THE  STATEMENT. 

HEADQUARTERS  VETERANS  OF  THE  SEVENTH  REGT.,  ^ 

NATIONAL  GUARD  S.  N.  Y.,      > 

NEW  YORK,  February  23,    1884.  ) 

In  order  to  prevent  misunderstanding  and  misapprehension  on 
the  part  of  the  public,  and  the  members  of  the  Veteran  Association, 
which  I  have  the  honor  to  command,  in  regard  to  the  circular  issued 
by  some  of  the  Colonels  and  Generals  of  the  First  and  Second  Divis- 
ion, relating  to  Uniformed  Battalions,  which  has  been  so  suddenly 
sprung  upon  us,  I  desire  to  say  that  we  cannot  but  express  our 
astonishment  and  amazement  that  Col.  Emmons  Clark,  com- 
manding the  Seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.,  should  have 
signed  such  a  circular.  I  have  never,  since  my  election  to  the  Com- 
mand of  the  Veteran  Association  and  the  Uniformed  Battalion, 
received  one  word,  officially,  from  Col.  Clark  or  from  any  officer  of 
the  Seventh  Regiment,  that  the  Uniformed  Battalion  was  a  detri- 
ment to  the  Regiment.  Had  any  formal  notice  been  sent  to  me  or 
any  other  officer  of  the  Battalion,  requesting  an  interview,  one  cer- 


14 

tainly  would  have  been  accorded,  and  we  believe  that  any  misun- 
derstanding would  unquestionably  have  been  adjusted.  What  seems 
strange  to  us  is  this  :  that  Col.  Clark,  living  as  it  were  under  the 
same  roof,  and  in  daily  intercourse  with  us,  and  always  apparently 
of  the  pleasantest  nature,  should  not  have  in  some  manner  suggested 
to  us  that  such  a  circular  was  being  prepared,  and  was  about  to  be 
issued.  It  seems  to  us  unkind,  ungenerous,  and  unmanly ;  it  is  an 
apparent  insult,  and  intended  to  degrade  the  officers  and  members 
of  the  Uniformed  Battalion,  as  well  as  the  members  of  the  whole 
Association.  Joined  together  as  we  are  for  one  sole  object,  to  aid 
and  benefit  the  Seventh  Regiment  in  every  way  possible,  and  con- 
scientiously believing  that  we  were  aiding  and  benefiting  the  Regi- 
ment by  our  acts,  we  feel  that  no  more  unfair  way  of  attacking  us 
could  possibly  be  found.  Among  those  who  are  uniformed  will  be 
found  the  oldest  and  most  distinguished  and  esteemed  ex-members  of 
the  Seventh  Regiment,  many  of  whom  held  office  for  a  life-time,  and 
devoted  a  life  service  to  the  benefit  and  discipline  of  the  Regiment, 
"before  many  of  the  present  officers  were  born,"  and  many  of  them 
distinguished  themselves  during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  Their 
sons,  their  grandsons,  and  other  relatives  are  serving  in  the  Regi- 
ment to-day. 

There  is  not  one  among  us  who  would  ever  have  put  on  the  uni- 
form that  has  been  so  fiercely  characterized  by  the  circular,  had  we 
for  one  moment  imagined  that  we  were  not  doing  the  Regiment  a 
service. 

A  committee  has  been  appointed  to  investigate  the  whole  matter, 
and  we  ask  the  public  to  suspend  judgment  in  this  case  until  a  report 
is  made,  which  will  be  done  at  an  early  date. 

The  great  injury  intended  is  weakened  by  the  vulgar  and  ungentle- 
manly  expressions  contained  in  the  circular. 

Very  respectfully, 

L.  W.  WINCHESTER, 
Colonel  Commanding. 


15 

COLONEL  EMMONS  OLAKK'S  REPLY  TO  COLONEL  WINCHESTER. 

HEADQUARTERS  SEUENTH  EEGIMENT,  N.  Y.  S.  N.  (jr., 
NEW  YORK,  February  26,  1884. 

If  ex-Quartermaster  L.  "W.  Winchester,  who  is  President  of  the 
Veteran  Association  of  this  Regiment  and  nominally  Colonel  there- 
of, had  attempted,  in  his  circular  dated  February  23,  to  answer  any 
part  of  the  statement  recently  published  and  signed  by  all  the  Gen- 
erals and  Colonels  of  the  National  Guard  in  New  York  and  Brook- 
lyn, it  is  probable  that  some  of  those  officers  who  he  accuses  of 
"  vulgar  and  ungentlemanly  expressions"  might  have  thought  proper 
to  reply.  But  the  Army  and  Navy  Journal,  the  highest  authority 
in  the  United  States  on  Army  and  National  Guard  affairs,  in  its 
issue  of  February  23,  answers  them  as  follows : 

"  The  man  who  wears  a  uniform  or  assumes  a  title  to  which  he 
"  has  no  legal  claim  is  possessing  himself,  so  far  as  in  his  power,  of 
"  property  to  which  he  has  no  right.  The  National  Guard  of  New 
"  York  have  been  especial  sufferers  from  this  form  of  dishonest 
"  appropriation,  until  their  patience  has  finally  become  exhausted, 
"  and  some  of  them  have  united  in  a  vigorous  protest  against  the 
"  nuisance." 

Instead  of  defending  the  assumption  and  use  of  military  titles  by 
men  who  have  never  fairly  earned  them  in  any  military  service,  and 
the  wearing  of  military  uniforms  by  men  who  are  not  in  the  military 
service  of  the  State  or  the  Nation  and  who  are  not  veterans  of  the 
late  war,  the  circular  referred  to  is  evidently  intended  to  divert  pub- 
lic attention  by  a  tirade  of  personal  abuse  of  the  Colonel  of  the 
Seventh  Regiment.  The  undersigned  cannot  be  drawn  into  any 
personal  controversy  on  a  subject  which  concerns  only  the  welfare 
of  the  National  Guard  ;  nor  can  he  be  induced  to  assume  an  attitude 
personally  hostile  to  any  part  of  the  exempt  and  veteran  members  of 
the  Seventh  Regiment.  It  is  necessary,  however,  to  state,  in  reply 
to  the  circular,  that  it  is  a  pretense  for  the  writer  thereof  to  assert 
that  he  did  not  know  that  the  Colonel  of  the  Seventh  Regiment  and 
many  of  its  officers  and  members,  although  on  friendly  terms  with 
the  officers  and  members  of  the  Uniformed  Veteran  Corps,  were  very 
hostile  to  the  existence  of  such  corps,  for  the  reason  that  they  be- 
ieved  it  to  be  detrimental  to  the  interests  and  welfare  of  the  Rej*i- 


16 

ment.  In  May,  1875,  the  undersigned  and  a  committee  of  the 
Board  of  Officers  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  officially  called  the  atten- 
tion of  the  then  Commandant  of  this  Uniformed  Veteran  Corps  to  the 
injury  done  to  the  Regiment  by  the  existence  of  such  corps,  and 
from  that  day  to  this  there  have  been  periodical  outbreaks,*  though 
no  public  demonstrations,  of  this  feeling.  It  has  been  often  pre- 
dicted, and  by  many  persons,  that  an  open  conflict  must  come, 
sooner  or  later,  between  the  Seventh  Regiment  and  this  Uniformed 
Veteran  Corps,  in  which  one  or  the  other  must  unconditionally  sur- 
render, and  any  one  prominently  connected  with  either  cannot  be 
ignorant  of  the  facts  as  above  stated.  If  this  necessary  action  had 
been  taken  only  by  the  Colonel  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  or  by  its 
Board  of  officers,  some  notice  would  probably  have  been  given  of  the 
publication  of  the  impending  protest ;  but  as  it  was  the  joint  actiont 
of  the  Generals  and  Colonels  of  the  First  and  Second  Divisions, 
without  an  exception,  in  defense  of  the  interests  of  the  whole  Na-  . 
tioiuil  Guard,  no  such  notice  could  be  expected  or  was  advisable. 
The  writer  of  this  remarkable  circular  would  seem  to  convey  the  idea 
that  the  Seventh  is  the  only  regiment  in  New  York  and  Brooklyn, 
and  that  its  Colonel  is  the  only  one  holding  that  rank.  He  is  hereby 
informed  that  the  Seventh  Regiment  is  only  an  eighth  part  of  the 
National  Guard  of  the  two  cities ;  that  the  five  Generals  and  the 
eleven  other  Colonels  who  signed  the  statement  to  which  he  objects 
are  men  of  large  experience  and  who  have  earned  the  commissions 
they  hold  and  the  titles  they  bear ;  that  they  are  as  competent  to 

*  Colonel  Emmons  Clark  in  a  communication  to  General  Marshall  Lefferts  in  May, 
1875,  in  reference  to  a  proposed  joint  trip  of  the  Seventh  Regiment  and  Uniformed 
Battalion  to  Boston,  expressed  an  opinion,  that  the  adoption  of  the  present  uniform, 
would  tend  to  induce  young  men  to  leave  the  regiment,  earlier  than  they  otherwise 
would,  in  order  to  join  the  Uniformed  Battalion,  but  experience  proved  that  he  was 
mistaken,  and  in  consequence  of  the  many  cordial  and  affable  communications  from 
Colonel  Emmons  Clark  (hereinafter  printed),  it  was  concluded,  that  he  had  withdrawn 
his  objection.  No  communication  has  at  any  time  been  received  by  the  Board  of 
Officers  of  the  Veterans,  in  reference  to  the  uniform,  from  a  Committee  appointed 
by  the  Board  of  Officers  of  the  Seventh  Regiment.  The  Board  of  Officers  of  the 
Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regiment  are  not  cognizant  of  the  periodical  outbreaks 
referred  to. 

t  While  Colonel  Clark  intimates  in  the  foregoing  communication  that  the  state- 
ment was  published  at  the  instigation  and  after  conference  with  the  other  officers  of 
the  National  Guard  whose  names  are  signed  thereto,  the  committee  have  positive 
assurance  that  he  was  the  author  of  the  statement,  and  that  he  personally  presented 
it  to  most  of  the  other  officers  for  their  signature. 


17 

judge  of  what  is  detrimental  to  the  regiments  they  command,  and  to 
the  National  Guard  generally,  as  any  ex-staff  officer  of  this  or  any 
other  regiment ;  that  five  of  these  officers  are  graduates  of  the  Seventh 
Regiment  and  love  that  organization  as  well  as  he  does,  and  far 
more  wisely;  that  six  of  them,  viz.,  Shaler,  Christensen,  Fitzgerald, 
McLeer,  Porter  and  Cavanagh,  are  veterans  of  the  late  war,  and 
entered  the  -  service  of  the  United  States  in  1861,  about 
the  same  time  that  the  writer  of  the  circular  retired  from  the 
militia  to  the  congenial  pursuits  of  peace.  No  better  evidence  is 
needed  that  these  uniformed  veteran  battalions  should  be  abolished 
than  the  fact  that  the  commander  of  the  largest  of  them,  in  a  pub- 
lic circular,  can  deliberately  apply  to  these  real  veterans  of  the  late 
war,  and  to  the  other  distinguished  National  Guard  officers  signing 
the  statement,  such  epithets  as  "  vulgar  and  ungentlemanly,"  and  to 
the  Colonel  of  the  regiment  in  which  he  was  once  a  staff  officer,  a 
variety  of  additional  ones.  Vituperation  must  have  become  a  pro- 
fession. 

That  the  public  may  understand  one  important  part  of  this  matter, 
so  far  .as  the  Seventh  Regiment  is  concerned,  it  is  necessary  to  state 
that  there  are  in  the  City  of  New  York  and  vicinity  about  3,000 
exempt  or  veteran  members;  that  of  this  number  about  1,200,  more 
or  less,  are  members  of  an  association  called  the  "  Veterans  of  the 
Seventh  Regiment,"  chartered,  not  for  military,  but  for  benevolent 
and  social  purposes ;  that  of  this  1,200  members  of  this  association 
about  400  have  obtained  and  worn  military  uniforms,  and  their  offi- 
cers wear  the  military  insignia  of  rank  or  grade,  although  in  express 
violation  of  Section  59,  Chapter  299,  Laws  of  1883  ;*  that  the  ex- 
empt or  veteran  members  of  the  regiment  who  do  not  wear  uniforms, 
say  2,500  in  number,  are,  so  far  as  known,  opposed  to  the  uniformed 
Veteran  Corps  ;  that  the  400  uniformed  members  of  the  Association 
have  obtained  control  of  it ;  that  the  ununiformed  members  of  the 
Association  are  practically  excluded  from  office  or  from  any  part  in 
its  management,  and,  therefore,  naturally  absent  themselves  from  its 
meetings ;  that  the  usefulness  of  the  Association  is  greatly  impaired 
because  the  men  who  control  it  are  chiefly  interested  in  fancy  uni- 


*  By  reference  to  the  section  referred  to,  hereinafter  printed,  p.  60,  it    will    be 
seen  that  Colonel  Clark  is  in  error. 


18 

forms,  parades,  excursions,  and  other  festivities ;  that  consequently 
the  benevolent  fund  of  the  Association,  which  should  long  since 
have  reached  a  large  amount,  is  now  only  $5,000,  and  very  inade- 
quate to  the  relief  of  needy  members  and  their  families  ;  *  and  that 
some  of  the  members  of  the  uniformed  veteran  corps  who  procured 
uniforms,  supposing  that  they  were  benefiting  or  honoring  the  regi- 
ment thereby,  have  long  since  laid  them  aside  and  have  refused  to 
wear  them  again  in  street  parades  or  on  any  other  occasion.  While 
the  President  or  commanding  officer  of  the  Association  may  probably 
represent  a  majority  of  the  400  uniformed  members  of  the  Association, 
he  does  not  properly  represent  the  ununiformed'  members  to  any  con- 
siderable extent,  nor  the  exempt  and  veteran  members  who  are  not 
enrolled  in  the  Association,  nor  all  of  the  members  who  have  been 
induced  to  procure  uniforms.  The  time  may  come  when  the  ununi- 
formed members  of  the  Association  and  the  uniformed  members  who 
desire  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  regiment,  will  assert  their  rights 
and  restore  the  Association  to  its  legal  and  legitimate  purposes. 

EMMONS  CLAKK, 
Colonel  Seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.  8.  N.  Y. 


*  See  Supplementary  Report  of  the  Committee  hereinafter  printed,    p.  24,  from 
which  it  will  be  seen  that  Colonel  Clark  is  again  in  error. 


19 

NEW  YORK,  March  i,  1884. 

REQUEST    FOR     A     SPECIAL    MEETING   OF    THE    VETERANS 
OF    THE    SEVENTH     REGIMENT,    N.  G.  S.  N.  Y. 

COLONEL  LOCKE  W.  WINCHESTER, 

Commanding  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  JV.  Y.  : 
DEAR  SIR — We,  the  undersigned  members  of  the  Veterans  of  the 
Seventh  Regiment,  National  Guard,  S.  N.  Y.,  respectfully  request 
that  a  special  meeting  of  the  Association  be  called  for  Saturday  even- 
ing, March  8th,  at  8  o'clock,  to  hear  the  report  of  the  Committee  of 
the  Board  of  Management,  appointed  February  2oth,  to  investigate 
a  Statement  issued  and  signed  by  some  of  the  Colonels  of  the  various 
regiments,  of  which  Colonel  Clark  was  the  first  signer,  and  to  trans- 
act such  other  business  as  may  be  brought  before  the  meeting. 

WM.  R.  MACDIARMID, 
H.  L.  FREELAND, 
W.  A.  HOEBER, 
GEORGE  P.  EDGAR, 
FRED  A.  GOODWIN, 
EDWARD  A.  KINGSLAND, 
W.  H.  JACKSON, 
CHAS.  B.  BOSTWICK, 
JAS.  BLEECKER, 
FRANCIS  A.  SILVA. 


HEADQUARTERS  VETERANS  OF  THE  SEVENTH  REGT.,  } 
NATIONAL  GUARD,  S.  N.  Y., 

NEW  YORK,  March  3,  1884.  ) 

A  special  meeting  of  this  association  will  be  held  at  the  Armory 
on  Saturday  evening,  March  8th,  at  8  o'clock,  to  hear  the  report  of 
the  Committee  of  the  Board  of  Management,  appointed  February 
zoth,  to  investigate  a  Statement  issued  and  signed  by  some  of  the 
Colonels  of  the  various  regiments,  of  which  Colonel  Clark  was  the 
first  signer,  and  to  transact  such  other  business  as  may  be  brought 
before  the  meeting. 

,  L.  W.  WINCHESTER, 

Colonel  Commanding. 


20 


SUMMARY   OF   PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE   SPECIAL 
MEETING. 

The  following  is  a  Summary  of  Proceedings  of  the  Special 
Meeting  of  the  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Eegiment,  N.  G.  S. 
N.  Y.,  held  in  accordance  with  the  order  of  March  3rd,  1884, 
and  at  which,  upwards  of  six  hundred  members  were  present. 

HENRY   L.    FREELAND, 

Adjiitant  and  ex  officio  Secretary. 

Special  Meeting  of  the  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regiment, 
N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.,  held  on  March  8th,  1884. 

Lieut.  Colonel  Charles  B.  Bostwick  in  the  Chair  : 

"Please  give  your  attention  to  the  report  of  the  committee 
of  the  Board  of  Management. " 

Colonel  Locke  W.  Winchester,  chairman  of  the  Special 
Committee,  then  read  the  following  report. 

REPORT 

OP  THE 

COMMITTEE  OF  THE  BOARD  OF  MANAGEMENT. 

The  Committee  of  the  Board  of  Management  appointed  at 
the  meeting  of  February  20th  last,  to  investigate  the  semi- 
official statements  contained  in  a  circular  issued  and  signed 
by  some  of  the  Colonels  of  various  regiments,  and  of  which 
Colonel  Emmons  Clark  was  the  first  signer,  beg  leave  to  sub- 
mit the  following  report: 

In  this  printed  circular  we  find  the  following  statement: 
"  The  practical  result  of  the  existence  of  uniformed  org-dni- 
"  zations  bearing  the  names  and  numerical  designations  of 
"  Regiments  of  the  National  Guard  has  been  to  induce  young 
"  men,  who  would  otherwise  continue  to  perform  active 
"  military  duty  in  the  National  Guard,  to-  take  their  dis- 
(s  charge  from  the  service  of  the  State  to  join  the  uniformed 
' '  veteran  battalions. " 


21 

As  to  this  statement — in  order  to  get  at  the  facts  and  to 
obtain  data  that  would  be  reliable,  your  committee  sent  a 
postal  card  to  each  of  the  uniformed  members  of  the  "  Vet- 
erans of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  N.  Gr.  S.  N.  Y.,"  asking 
certain  questions,  and  we  have  received  352  replies. 

The  following  are  the  questions  and  summarized  replies: 

Ques.  1.  Were  you  induced  to  take  your  discharge  from 
the  Seventh  Eegiment,  to  join  the  uniformed  battalion? 

To  this  question  all  have  answered  in  the  negative. 

Ques.  2.  Did  you  join  the  regiment  with  a  view  of  becom- 
ing a  member  of  the  uniformed  battalion? 

To  this  we  have  three  answers  in  the  affirmative. 

Ques.  3 .  Since  becoming  a  member  of  the  Veteran  Organi- 
zation how  many  recruits  have  you  procured  for  the  Seventh 
Regiment? 

In  answer  to  this  question,  we  learn  that  296  recruits  have 
been  actually  added  to  the  company  rolls  of  the  Seventh  Regi- 
ment by  the  uniformed  members  of  the  Veteran  Organization. 

Ques.  4.     Were  you  in  the  U.  S.  Army  or  Navy? 

In  answer  to  this  question  we  learn  that  49  were  in  either 
the  Army  or  Navy  1861-65,  some  of  whom  had  served  with 
the  regiment  in  1861. 

Ques.  5.  Where  you  in  the  U.  S.  Service  1861-63  with  the 
Seventh  Regiment? 

In  answer  to  this  question  we  learn  that  185  men  were 
members  of  the  Seventh  Regiment  1861-63.  Of  this  number 
156  were  in  the  U.  S.  Service  with  the  Regiment. 

The  following  is  a  consolidated  Summary  of  the  terms  of 
service  in  the  Seventh  Regiment  of  the  Uniformed  Veterans, 
viz. : 


22 


SUMMAEY. 


YEAES    OF     SER- 

AGE 

VICE  IN  SEVENTH 

REGIMENT.  N.  G. 

S.  N.  Y. 

REMARKS 

No.  of 

Years  of 

No.  of 

Years  of 

Men. 

age. 

Men. 

Service. 

3 

25 

8 

5 

Service  with  the  Seventh  Reg- 

22 

25  to  301       12 

6 

iment,  1861-63: 

85 

30  to  40 

145 

7 

1  85  men  of  the  352  uniformed 

140 
70 
25 
3 

40  to  50 
50  to  60 
60  to  70 
70  to  75 

58 
107 
16 

2 

8 
9  to  15 
15  to  20 
21 

members  who  have  responded  to 
the  postal  inquiry  were  in  the 
Seventh  Eegiment.  186  l-1863,of 
this   number    156   volunteered 

3 

75  to  80 

2 

24 

with  the  Eegiment, 

1 

81 

1 

30 

O 

1 

'  38 

Service  in  the  Army  or  Navy, 

QKO 

1861-1865- 

UtJ/C 

352 

A  C  '  v  J.  —  '  JL  <_/  VI  V  • 

49  men  of  the  352  who  have 

responded,  enlisted  in  the  Army 

or  Navy,  some   of   whom   were 

with  the  Seventh  Eegiment  in 

1861. 

The   352   men  who  have  re- 

sponded have  procured  296  re- 

cruits for  the  Seventh  Eegiment 

93  %  are  over  30  years  of  age. 

68  %  are  over  40  years  of  age. 

94  %  have  served  7  yrs.  and  over. 

36  %  have  served  9  vrs.  and  over. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  facts  that  the  semi-offi- 
cial statement  made  in  the  circular  to  which  we  have  referred, 
to  the  effect  that  the  practical  result  of  the  existence  of  the 
Uniformed  Veteran  Organization  has  been  to  induce  young 
men  to  take  their  full  and  honorable  discharges  from  the 
Seventh  Eegiment  in  order  to  join  the  Veteran  organization, 
is  erroneous,  as  the  Veteran  organization  has  not  only  not  de- 
pleted the  numerical  strength  of  the  Eegiment  but  has  large- 
Iv  added  to  it. 


23 

The  next  statement  in  the  circular  is  in  reference  to  the 
uniform,  and  is  as  follows: 

"  For  this  reason  the  extraordinary  efforts  to  make  such 
"  uniformed  battalion  attractive,  by  expensive  and  showy 
"  uniforms,  by  parades  and  excursions,  and  by  other  festivi- 
"  ties,  is  a  positive  detriment  of  the  National  Guard ." 

The  committee  hardly  deem  it  necessary  to  allude  to  this 
subject.  It  is  well-known  both  to  the  older  members  of  the 
regiment  and  of  the  Veteran  Organization,  that  a  uniform 
was  adopted  in  April,  1861,  immediately  after  the  organiza- 
tion had  received  its  charter  from  the  Legislature.  This  uni- 
form was  used  for  several  years  on  important  public  emergen- 
cies, but  as  it  was  not  found  to  be  entirely  appropriate,  a 
more  suitable  and  serviceable  uniform  was  subsequently  adopt- 
ed, distinctive  in  its  character,  and  which  cannot  be  mistaken 
for  the  uniform  of  the  regiment. 

The  uniform  now  worn  by  the  members  of  the  Veteran  Or- 
ganization was  adopted  through  the  exertions  of  its  lamented 
Colonel  Marshall  Lefferts.  From  the  facts  presented  for 
your  consideration  and  from  those  within  your  knowledge,  it 
is  evident  that  the  uniform  has  undoubtedly  served  to 
strengthen  and  maintain  the  interest  of  the  older  members, 
and  to  preserve  and  continue  their  recollections  of  service  in 
the  regiment,  and  at  the  same  time  to  make  the  organization 
more  serviceable  in  any  public  emergency  during  which  the 
Commander-in-Chief  might  need  their  services. 

With  reference  to  the  statement  in  the  circular  that  the 
uniformed  battalion  of  the  Veteran  Organization  is  a  standing 
menace  to  the  strength  and  welfare  of  the  Regiment,  we  in- 
vite your  attention  to  the  facts  already  presented,  which  dis- 
prove such  allegation. 

In  regard  to  the  imputation  that  the  veteran  organization 
has  assumed  to  use,  without  authority,  numerical  designations 
and  military  titles,  we  beg  to  refer  to  the  opinion*  of  Messrs. 
Asa  Bird  Gardner  and  Jas.  G.  Janeway. 

There  are  many  statements  in  the  circular  to  which  we  be- 
lieve it  is  unnecessary  to  invite  your  attention,  as  they  carry 
their  own  refutation  in  their  context. 

*  Copy  of  opinion  not  furnished  in  time  for  this  publication. 


24 

We  learn  however,  from  the  circular,  with  deep  regret  and 
surprise,  that  persons  may  receive  full  and  honorable  dischar- 
ges from  the  Seventh  Regiment  who  have  only  performed  -five 
years  of  indifferent  service  therein. 

In  conclusion  we  beg  to  say  that  the  history  of  the  Veteran 
Organization  has  shown,  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century,  the 
deep  and  abiding  interest  of  the  members  in  the  welfare,  pros- 
perity and  reputation  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,   and  we  de- 
plore and  discourage  any  action  which  tends,  or  may  tend,  in 
the  least  degree,  to  mar  the  harmony  and  affection  Avhich  has 
heretofore  always  existed  between  the  two  organizations. 
All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 
Dated  New  York,  March  8th,  1884. 

L.  W!  WINCHESTER, 

Chairman. 

JOHN  C.  GIFFING, 
EDWARD  G.  ARTHUR, 
HENRY  W.  T.  MALI, 
HENRY  H.  HOLLY, 
H.  L.  FREELAND, 

Committee. 

SUPPLEMENTARY  REPORT. 

NEW  YORK,   March  8th,   1884. 

The  Committee  of  the  Board  of  Management  appointed 
February  2oth,  beg  leave  to  state,  that  while  making  the  inquiry 
then  directed,  they  had  their  attention  called  to  a  communication 
affecting  this  organization,  which  appeared  in  the  New  York 
daily  papers  of  February  26th,  and  also  in  a  circular  signed  by 
Colonel  Emmons  Clark,  a  member  of  this  organization. 
In  that  communication  it  is  stated  : 

"  That  the  usefulness  of  the  Association  is  greatly  impared, 
"  because  the  men  who  control  it  are  chiefly  interested  in  fancy 
"  uniforms,  parades  excursions  and  other  festivities,  that  conse- 
"  quently,  the  Benevolent  Fund  of  the  Association,  which  should 
"  long  since  have  reached  a  large  amount,  is  now  only  $5.000, 
"  and  very  inadequate  to  the  relief  of  needy  members  and  their 
"  families." 

It  is  well  known  to  the  older  members  of  this  Veteran  Organi- 


25 

zation,  that  the  oenevolent  features  in  its  incorporation    have  a. 
ways  been  only  one  of  the  incidental  objects. 

Your  Committee  believing  that  your  attention  should  be 
invited  to  this  subject,  have  the  honor  to  submit  herewith  the 
report  of  the  Paymaster,  showing  the  present  financial  condition 
of  the  organization,  as  compared  with  that  of  1875;  (about  the 
time  when  the  present  uniform  was  adopted),  which  conclusively 
answers  so  much  ot  the  statement,  as  your  Committee  deem 
deserving  of  such  notice. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

L.   W.  WINCHESTER, 

Chairman  of  Committee. 


REPORT  OF  THE  PAYMASTER. 

NEW  YORK,  March  8th,  1884. 
COLONEL  L.  W.  WINCHESTER, 

Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  the  Board  of  Management. 
DEAR  SIR  : 

In  response  to  the  request  of  your  Committee  for  a  statement 
of  the  financial  condition  of  "the  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regi- 
ment, N.  G.  S.  N.  Y. ,"  I  beg  leave  to  hand  you  herewith  the 
following  report : 

1875. 

April    i  Qth,    General  Fund  cash  balance 

(see  1 6th  Annual  Report),  $247  81 

Investments — 1 1    Shares     Bank   of 

New  York        -       $1,100 
$6,000  U.  S.  6  per  cent.  Bonds  6,000 

7,100  oo 


Total     -----       $7,347  81 

1884. 

March  8th,  General  Fund,  cash  balance  $600  80 

Benevolent  Fund,  cash  in   N.  Y.    Life  Ins. 

and  Trust  Co. ,  at  4  per  cent.  5, 261  oo 

Reserve  Fund,  cash  in  N.  Y.  Life  Ins.  and 

Trust  Co.,  at  4  per  cent.  5,57$  48 


Total  $11.440  28 


Increase,  $4,092  47 

Total  disbursements  for  Charity  to  date,  $6,907  73. 


26 

That  the  Reserve  Fund  of  the  Organization  has  never  been 
drawn  upon  for  any  purpose  whatever,  but  has  increased  from 
year  to  year  since  1875,  and  the  accrued  interest  invested.  . 

The  Benevolent  Fund,  as  Incorporated  in  the  Charter  of  April 
1 9th,  1882,  comprises  the  sum  of  $5,000,  to  which  has  been 
added,  by  the  contribution  of  the  Uniformed  Members  on  October 
3ist,  1883,  the  sum  of  $251,  and  by  the  contribution  of  Mr. 
H.  R.  Searle,  not  a  member  of  the  Organization,  the  sum  of  $10, 
making  a  total  of  $5,261.00  The  income  of  this  Fund  is  devo- 
ted to  charitable  purposes  only,  and  no  other  draft  on  it  can  be 
made.  The  disbursements  for  charity  entered  in  above  report 
have  been  made  from  the  income  aforesaid  and  from  the  re- 
ceipts of  fees  of  new  members. 

That  no  worthy  appeal  for  assistance  from  any  member  of  the 
Organization  has  ever  been  refused,  and  that  the  charitable  work 
of  the  Organization  has  increased  four-fold  since  1876,  and  is 
now  at  its  maximum. 

Very  respectfully, 

EDWARD  A.  KINGSLAND, 

Paymaster. 

I  hereby  certify  that  I  have  examined  the  above  ) 
report,  and  that  it  is  true  and  correct.  C 

E.  G.  ARTHUE, 

Chairman  Finance  Committee, 

Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regiment. 

The  chairman  also  read  the  opinion  of  Messrs.  Asa  Bird 
Gardner  and  James  G.  Jaheway;  to  the  effect  that  the  Veter- 
ans of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y, ,  are  an  inde- 
pendent military  organization  recognized  by  the  State,  and 
in  the  present  Military  Code,  and  that  they  have  not  assumed  to 
use  military  designations,  -uniforms  or  titles  of  rank  contrary 
to  law. 

Lieut.  Col.  Bostwick  then  resigned  the  chair  to  Col.  Win- 
chester, who  cautioned  the  members  to  be  temperate  in 
speech,  and  to  avoid  personal  allusions  in  debate. 


27 

Bvt.  Brig.  General  Charles  Koome,  late  U.  S.  Vols.  said : 
Mr.  Chairman — I  desire  to  offer  the  following  resolutions  : 

KESOLUTIONS. 

Whereas,  the  Committee  of  the  Board  of  Management  have, 
at  this  meeting,  rendered  their  report  relative  to  certain  allega- 
tions or  imputations  concerning  this  Veteran  Organization,  con- 
tained in  a  recent  printed  extra  official  and  concerted  circular, 
signed  by  Colonel  Emmons  Clark,  Seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.  S. 
N.  Y.,  and  by  several  other  commanding  officers,  and 

Whereas,  such  concerted  circular  appears  to  have  been  issued 
and  published  in  the  daily  press  and  otherwise  distributed,  with 
a  view,  if  possible,  to  bring  discredit  upon  the  uniformed  mem- 
bers of  this  organization,  and  to  complain  of  the  use  of  its  char- 
tered title,  and  also  with  a  view  to  influence  the  Legislature  of 
this  State  on  a  pending  bill,  and  if  possible,  impair  the  efficiency  of 
this  Veteran  Organization  as  one  which  the  Commander-in-Chief 
may  confidently  call  upon  in  a  public  emergency,  and 

Whereas,  such  concerted  circular,  in  its  partial  and  errone- 
ous statement  of  facts,  and  the  conclusions  therefrom,  has  a  ten- 
dency to  mar  the  harmony  and  affectionate  and  respectful  attach- 
ment, which  has  heretofore,  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  subsisted 
between  the  "  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,"  and  the 
Seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.  Now,  therefore 

Resolved — That  this  organization  hereby  approves  and  ratines 
the  report  just  rendered,  and  directs  the  same  to  be  printed  for 
distribution. 

Resolved — That  this  organization  declares  its  unabated  at- 
tachment and  regard  for  the  regiment,  from  which  its  members, 
after  full  and  honorable  service  therein,  have  been  chosen,  and 
further  expresses  its  pride  in  the  regiment's  character  and  reputa- 
tion, and  an  abiding  interest  in  its  welfare  and  prosperity  as  an 
integral  part  of  the  National  Guard  of  this  State. 

Resolved — That  this  organization  will,  as  always  heretofore,  con- 
tinue by  every  proper  means  in  its  power  to  aid  in  maintaining 
the  efficiency  of  the  regiment,  and  to  keep  its  ranks  full,  and  to 
support  it  in  every  public  emergency,  and  on  every  occasion  of 
ceremony  where  its  services,  may,  as  heretofore,  be  invoked. 


28 

Resolved — That  this  organization  deeply  deplores  the  efforts  of 
any  individual  member,  or  of  officers  of  the  National  Guard, 
unconnected  with  this  organization  or  with  the  regiment,  to  at- 
tempt to  disturb  the  affectionate  and  respectful  relations  which 
have  always  subsisted  between  the  two,  and  this  organization 
further  deplores  and  expresses  its  decided  disapproval  of  any 
attempt  to  impair  its  efficiency  or  solidarity  as  an  independent 
veteran  military  organization,  chartered  by  the  State,  and 

Whereas,  the  members  of  this  Veteran  Organization,  when  vol- 
untarily enlisting  and  faithfully  serving  in  the  Seventh  Regiment, 
the  full  term  of  years  required  by  law,  did  not,  by  receiving  full 
and  honorable  discharge  become  absolutely  discharged  from  the 
State  forces,  but  are  still  liable  by  law,  under  their  original 
engagements  for  duty  therein  in  time  of  insurrection  or  invasion, 
and 

Whereas,  this  Veteran  Organization  sought,  and  obtained  trom 
the  Legislature  of  this  State,  in  March  1861,  when  Civil  War  was 
imminent,  a  charter  which  would  render  it  efficient  as  an  inde- 
pendent military  organization  for  such  a  contingency,  in  which 
charter  its  veteran  character,  and  the  military  designations  of  its 
officers  were  distinctly  recognized,  and 

Whereas,  this  Veteran  Organization,  in  April  1861,  at  request  ot 
the  military  authorities,  uniformed,  equipped  and  drilled  a  bat- 
talion of  its  honorably  discharged  members  of  the  regiment, 
consisting  of  all  for  whom  arms  could  be  supplied  by  the  State, 
and  performed  then  such  public  duty  as  was  required,  and  again 
reported  for  and  performed  duty  in  the  draft  riots  of  1863  and 
railroad  riots  of  1877,  and 

Whereas,  this  Veteran  Organization  has  always  considered  itselt 
as  an  independent  military  organization,  recognized  by  law,  and 
subject,  under  the  Military  Code,  to  the  orders  of  His  Excel- 
lency the  Governor,  in  case  of  emergency  or  necessity,  to  aid  the 
National  Guard  in  quelling  invasion,  insurrection,  riot  or  breach 
of  the  peace. 

Resolved — That  this  organization,  as  a  conservator  of  the  peace, 
long  recognized  by  the  State,  will  continue  as  heretofore,  to  re- 
spond with  fidelity  and  alacrity  to  the  call  of  duty  on  a  public 


29 

emergency,  and  to  maintain  the  reputation  of  the  Corps  for  strict 
and  attentive  performance  thereof,  and  this  organization  invites 
attention  to  the  services  it  has  already  performed, and  to  the  char- 
acter of  its  members,  and  the  record  they  have  made  for  them- 
selves by  long  and  honorable  service  in  the  Seventh  Regiment,  as 
evidences  of  the  respect  and  confidence  to  which  this  organization 
believes  itself  entitled  and  justified  in  continuing  to  expect  from 
the  constituted  authorities  and  citizens  of  this  State. 

Resolved — That  the  Colonel  of  this  organization,  and  six  mem- 
bers to  be  appointed  by  the  chair,  constitute  a  committee  with  full 
power  to  take  such  action  to  protect  and  conserve  the  interests  and 
rights  of  this  organization  as  they  may  deem  necessary  or  desir- 
able. 


GENERAL  CHARLES  ROOME: 

Mr.  Chairman — I  would  like  to  say  to  my  friends  and  associates 
here  just  a  few  words.  I  will  not  take  much  of  your  time.  I  was 
one  of  the  originators  of  this  Association.  I  was  one  of  the  most 
active  among  you.  I  worked  hard,  and  I  worked  faithfully,  and 
why  ?  Because  I  was  one  of  the  sons  of  this  regiment.  Here  I 
attained  my  military  education,  and  here  I  devoted  myself,  my  honor, 
and  my  services,  and  I  am  just  as  true  a  member  of  the  Seventh 
Regiment  to-day  as  any  man  here  or  in  the  active  body.  (Cheers.) 

Sir,  a  few  of  us,  friends  and  associates,  who  marched  side  by 
side,  touching  elbow  to  elbow,  gathered  together  for  the  purpose  of 
considering  what  we  could  do  to. keep  up  the  remembrance  of  each 
other.  I  was  a  young  man  then,  and  full  of  fire  as  a  young  cadet, 
but  still  the  heart  that  beat  in  me  then,  beats  as  warmly  now  ;  and 
so  does  that,  of  that  noble  and  brave  old  man  (Brevet  Colonel 
Shumway),  who  was  obliged  just  now  to  leave  this  room  because 
the  heat  was  too  oppressive,  although  the  heat  was  not  too  oppress- 
ive for  him  in  the  time  of  riots.  (Applause.) 

Sir,  in  the  paper  which  I  see  here  there  are  one  or  two  remarks 
which  I  confess  have  filled  me  with  surprise.  They  read  as  follows : 

"  The  uniformed  '  veteran  '  battalions  should  not  be  allowed  to 
"  use  the  names  and  numerical  designations  of  the  National  Guard 
"  regiments,  because  the  assumption  of  the  name  of '  veteran,'  by 
"  the  very  young  men  who  publicly  appear  in  the  uniform  of  such 


30 

"  battalions,  is  discourteous  to  the  gallant  veterans  of  the  last  war, 
"  as  well  as  by  those  who  by  long  and  distinguished  service  in  the 
"  National  Guard,  and  by  mature  years,  may  be  fairly  entitled  to 
"  that  designation."  We  had  veterans  in  this  regiment  before  the 
last  war,  and  I  was  one  of  them  then. 

"  To  be  eligible  to  wear  the  regalia  of  these  uniformed  '  veteran  ' 
"  battalions,  it  is  only  necessary  to  perform  five  years  of  indifferent 
"  service  in  the  militia  of  the  State,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-three 
"  years  young  men  may,  and  sometimes  do,  lay  aside  the  modest 
"  uniform  of  the  private  soldier  in  the  National  Guard  in  exchange 
"  for  the  chapeau  and  sword  and  uniform  of  a  general  officer,  and 
"  parade  in  public  as  '  veterans.'  " 

Now,  gentlemen,  in  this  connection  I  would  draw  your  attention  to 
one  point.  I  do  not  know  who  wrote  this  paper,  but  I  am  astonished 
that  the  Colonel  of  our  regiment,  whom  we  have  honored  so  greatly 
in  the  past,  and  would  gladly  honor  in  the  future,  should  have 
signed  a  paper  which  pays  so  poor  a  compliment  to  himself,  and  his 
associate  officers.  (Applause.) 

I  say  to  the  gentlemen  here,  if  inefficient  and  indifferent  service  is 
tolerated  in  this  regiment,  now,  for  five  consecutive  years,  it  is  a  very 
different  regiment  from  what  it  was  when  I  was  a  young  man. 
(Applause.) 

Colonel,  I  sincerely  hope  that  somebody  will  draw  the  attention 
of  the  Colonel  of  the  Seventh  to  that  article,  for  I  am  sure  he  will 
say  :  "  I  did  not  examine  that  paper  carefully." 

This  paper  also  speaks  somewhere,  1  do  not  know  where  it  is,  of 
the  desire  of  our  young  veterans  (laughter)  to  put  on  uniform  and 
parade  in  fuss  and  feathers.  Look  at  the  list  of  names  down  there. 
Do  the  distinguished  officers  of  these  regiments  want  to  monopolize 
all  the  fuss  and  feathers  and  leave  us  nothing  but  work  ?  What 
possible  cause  have  they  for  envy  ?  Our  veteran  uniform  is  simply 
a  reminder  of  long  and  faithful  service  rendered  when  we  wore  the 
same  uniform  which  they  now  wear;  what  has  this  organization 
ever  done  that  would  cause  any  one  connected  with  the  active 
regiment  to  offer  us  such  stuff  as  this  ?  Is  not  this  regiment  dear  to 
us  all?  Have  we  not  served  in  it  ?  Are  not  our  children  marching 
in  it  now  side  by  side  ?  I  had  four  brothers  in  my  company,  and 
one  brother-in-law,  and  after  I  put  on  the  uniform  of  a  veteran  of 


31 

this  regiment  I  brought  my  son  and  two  of  my  sister's  children 
in  to  join  its  ranks.  Is  that  the  way  to  deplete  the  regiment? 
No !  If  I  had  fifty  children  I  would  gladly  bring  them  all  in.  My 
mother  had  twenty  children,  fourteen  of  whom  were  boys  five  of 
them  belonged  to  this  regiment.  (Applause.) 

Colonel  and  Gentlemen,  it  is  now  many  years  since  a  few  of  us 
gathered  to  form  the  Veteran  Association,  of  what  was  then  the 
"  National  Guard,"  for  there  was,  at  that  time,  but  one  regiment 
called  by  that  name.  My  associates  were  veterans  of  this  present 
regiment,  and  their  names  are  mentioned  in  the  earliest  records  of 
this  Association,  together  with  my  own  :  Col.  Linus  W.  Stevens,  whose 
heart  and  soul  were  in  it ;  Col.  Morgan  L.  Smith,  who  was  all  sol- 
dier, all  fire,  and  all  veteran;  Col.  Catlin,  who  first  called  us  together 
to  start  this  organization ;  and  others  whose  names  are  there  re- 
corded. These  men  formed  this  organization  for  the  express  purpose 
of  strengthening  the  regiment  and  sustaining  its  reputation  and  who 
questions  the  efforts  of  their  successors  to  carry  out  these  noble  ob- 
jects ? 

I  was  but  nineteen  years  of  age — no,  between  eighteen  and  nine- 
teen—when. I  joined,  and  now  I  am  nearly  seventy-two;  and  although 
I  may  be  marching  with  feeble,  tottering  steps  to  the  grave,  I  will 
hold  up  the  flag  of  my  regiment  to  the  very  last,  invoking  curses  on 
the  heads  of  those  who  seek  to  lower  or  dishonor  it.  (Uproarious 
applause.) 

But  let  there  be  no  anger  or  unkind  feeling.  A  soldier  should  be 
magnanimous.  If  these  gentlemen  officers  of  other  battalions  have 
come  into  our  paradise  and  corrupted  any  one  connected  with  us, 
throw  over  them  the  broad  mantle  of  charity.  Let  us  act  in  love. 
Let  us  do  all  we  can  to  bring  about  a  happy  termination  of  the  pres- 
ent difficulty,  or  of  any  unkind  feeling  that  may  exist.  Let  us  act 
like  soldiers,  like  gentlemen,  and  like  men. 

Strive  for  the  prosperity  of  this  regiment  that  we  so  dearly  love. 
Let  us  maintain  our  name  as  an  example  to  those  who  will  come 
after  us.  Let  them  see  how  we  act  under  provocation,  and  that 
under  insult  we  will  still  uphold  the  honor  of  our  organization.  Go 
forth ;  preach  nothing  but  love  and  kindness.  Pour  oil  on  the  troubled 
waters.  Let  us  show  an  example  to  our  children  and  children's 
children,  that  whatever  we  may  be  to  an  open  and  avowed  foe,  we 


have  nothing  but  affection  for  those  that  are  connected  with  us. 
Though  for  a  moment  they  may  be  misguided,  may  God  forgive 
them.  Let  us  do  the  same ;  but  keep  your  powder  dry.  (Great  ap- 
plause.) 

Hon.  WILLIAM  A.  DARLING: 

Mr.  Chairman — I  rise  to  second  these  resolutions.  Although  I 
am  not  a  uniformed  member  of  this  organization,  I  regard  the  ques- 
tion that  has  brought  this  great  assemblage  here  to-night  as  one 
that  reaches  further  than  the  uniform  that  is  worn,  and  one  that  affects 
the  status  of  every  member  of  the  Veteran  organization. 

I  feel,  Mr.  Chairman,  that  I  have  a  right  to  stand  here  and  de- 
fend this  organization  from  all  assaults  from  whatever  source  they 
may  come.  Can  it  be  possible  that  the  famous  and  magnificent 
regiment  to  which  we  have  belonged,  and  for  which  we  have  so 
much  love  and  admiration,  has  excited  the  hatred  and  jealousy  of 
other  organizations,  and  that  they  have  conspired  together  to  in- 
veigle the  worthy  Colonel  of  the  Seventh  Regiment  into  a  conspir- 
acy to  enter  our  ranks  and  cause  discord  and  dissension  between 
members  of  the  Seventh  Regiment  and  the  Seventh  Regiment 
Veterans  ?  Upon  no  other  hypothesis  can  I  reconcile  such  a  pro- 
ceeding as  this. 

Now,  gentlemen,  whatever  we  may  decide  to  do,  whatever  action 
we  may  in  our  assembled  wisdom  think  wise  and  best,  of  all  things, 
and  above  all  things,  let  us  do  nothing  that  shall  impair  the 
efficiency  of  that  grand  old  regiment  to  which  we  have  belonged, 
or  that  shall  create  the  slightest  unkind  feeling  in  that  regiment 
toward  us ;  but  let  us  show  them  that  they  have  made  a  mistake 
through  the  authorized  voice  of  their  regiment,  and  let  us  bring  to 
their  attention,  to  their  intelligence,  to  their  friendship,  and  to  their 
attachment,  the  duty  that  belongs  to  them  to  rectify  and  correct  the 
wrong  that  has  been  done  this  veteran  organization.  (Cheers). 

I  have  belonged  to  the  regiment  ever  since  it  had  its  name  as  the 
Seventh  Regiment,  and  when  it  was  the  Twenty-seventh  Regiment. 
I  joined  nearly  fifty  years  ago.  I  served  my  time  and  five  years 
beyond,  and  during  the  twelve  years  that  I  was  in  the  active  regi- 
ment I  never  missed  a  drill  or  a  parade,  but  once,  in  the  whole  of 
that  time.  (Applause). 


33 

Sir,  I  have  been  honored  by  the  regiment ;  I  have  been  one  of 
its  Officers;  I  have  been  honored  as  Secretary  of  the  Board  of 
Officers,  and  I  served  under  that  venerable  man,  that  noble  soldier, 
Captain  (Bvt. -Colonel)  Shumway,  who  is  with  us  to-night,  brought 
out  by  the  great  and  momentous  question  that  stirs  the  heart  of 
every  member  of  this  organization.  Who  can  begin  to  estimate  the 
value  of  the  services  this  faithful  old  soldier  has  rendered  to  the 
Seventh  Regiment  ?  To  his  services,  in  my  judgment,  to  his  mili- 
tary knowledge,  to  his  military  devotion  to  the  regiment,  we  owe 
more  than  to  any  other  man,  the  prestige,  the  esprit  de  corps,  and 
the  discipline  that  marks  that  regiment  now  as  the  first  of  its  kind 
in  this  country.  (Uproarious  applause.) 

I  followed  him  next  in  rank,  and  I  had  no  higher  ambition  than  to 
occupy  the  place  filled  by  him;  but  his  services  were  so  valu- 
able to  the  regiment  that  they  held  him  there,  and  he  clung  to 
it  until  age  and  infirmity  made  it  necessary  for  him  to  abandon  active 
service  and  join  himself  with  us,  as  the  proper  place  for  him  to  remain 
in  identification  with  the  active  regiment.  And  has  it  come  to  this  ? 
Has  it  come  to  pass  that  men  like  him,  who  have  grown  gray  in  the 
service,  who  have  rendered  such  valuable  services  to  the  regiment, 
are  to  be  now  set  aside,  humiliated,  and  disgraced  ?  I  trust  not,  Mr. 
Chairman.  In  my  opinion,  when  any  one  member  of  this  organiza- 
tion is  assailed,  the  whole  body  is  assailed.  We  all  know  that  no 
man  can  enter  this  organization  unless  he  is  entitled  to  receive  a 
proper  discharge  from  the  regiment,  and  is  fit  to  take  his  seat  side  by 
side  with  the  best  of  the  land ;  and  there  is  a  paragraph  in  the  circu- 
lar which  I  think  is  an  unwarranted  reflection  on  this  organization, 
and  I  am  sure  whoever  penned  it  could  not  have  estimated  the 
character  of  the  reflections  contained  in  it.  I  refer  to  the  part  in  the 
second  section,  which  says  : 

"  Those  who  are  •  charged  by  law  with  the  maintenance  of  the 
"  good  name  of  any  regiment  should  not  be  held  responsible  for  the 
"  conduct  of  those  over  whom  they  have  no  control;  but  so  long  as 
"  any  uniformed  battalion  bears  the  name  of  a  National  Guard  reg- 
"  iment,  such  regiment  will  be  held  responsible  by  the  public  for 
"  any  want  of  discipline  in  such  uniformed  battalion,  and  for  the  uu- 
"  soldierly  and  ungentlemanly  conduct  of  any  of  its  members  while  in 
"  uniform."  (Laughter.) 
3 


Can  it  be  possible,  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  that  there  is 
any  man  is  this  organization,  in  uniform  or  out  of  it,  who  would 
conduct  himself  in  an  unsoldierly  and  ungentlemanly  manner  that 
would  bring  disgrace  upon  the  regiment  from  which  he  sprung  ? 
(Cries  of  "  No— no.") 

Now,  Mr.  Chairman,  while  it  is  proper  that  we  should  allude  to 
these  things,  it  should  be  done  in  a  spirit  of  manliness  and  of  fair 
dealing,  not  in  a  spirit  of  revenge  or  hatred,  but  simply  to  show  to 
the  intelligence  of  this  community,  as  well  as  to  the  regiment  itself, 
that  whoever  prepared  that  circular  could  not  have  been  cognizant 
of  its  far-reaching  effect,  and  of  the  aspersions  and  reflections  that 
are  contained  in  its  phraseology.  It  certainly,  gentlemen,  could  not 
have  emanated  from  a  member  of  the  Seventh  Regiment — (Cries  of 
"  Good.") 

And,  Mr.  Chairman,  the  Seventh  Regiment  has  always  been  pro- 
verbial for  its  respect  and  maintenance  of  law  and  order.  If  we  are 
violating  the  law,  we  will  submit  and  abide  the  consequences,  even 
if  it  deprives  us  of  our  very  attractive  uniform — an  important  element 
in  preserving  the  prestige  of  the  Seventh  Regiment  itself. 

We  know  very  well,  Mr.  Chairman  and  gentlemen,  the  fact  that 
there  is  a  uniformed  body  in  the  organization  of  our  Veterans  which 
has  contributed  in  a  very  large  degree  to  the  growth  and  prosperity 
of  the  Seventh  Regiment. 

We  know  that  young  men  can  come  into  the  active  regi- 
ment, and  be  part  of  it,  and  receive  a  share  of  the  applause  that 
the  regiment  is  always  entitled  to  by  its  conduct  and  discipline; 
and  by  serving  the  State  the  required  time,  they  can  join  this 
organization  and  will  preserve  their  identity  and  association  with 
the  regiment,  and  if  they  desire,  they  can  still  have  the  oppor- 
tunity to  parade  in  a  uniform  which  is  distinctive  in  itself,  but  which 
is  known  and  characterized  as  the  uniform  of  the  Seventh  Regiment 
Veteran  Organization.  We  know  how  important  this  Veteran  organ- 
ization has  been  to  the  public.  We  know  how  important  it  was  dur- 
ing the  time  of  the  war.  You  know  very  well,  gentlemen,  for  I  see 
a  great  many  of  my  old  associates  around  me,  that  when  I  buckled 
the  cartridge-box  upon  my  son,  a  member  of  the  Seventh  Regiment 
and  asked  him  if  every  cartridge  had  a  bullet  in  it,  and  when  I  helped 
to  put  on  his  knapsack,  and  started  him  from  the  old  armory  down 


35 

to  the  Potomac,  I  said,  "  You  go,  and  I  will  stay  here  and  take  your 
place."  The  Veterans  and  exempt  members  organized  a  regiment 
of  nearly  four  hundred  men.  I  had  the  honor  to  command  the 
eighth  company,  and  we  drilled  regularly — of  course  we  were  not 
familiar  with  the  new  drill,  for  the  tactics  had  been  changed  from 
Scott  to  Upton,  yet  we  went  through  the  double  quick  and  we  took 
all  the  muskets  that  could  be  given  to  us,  and,  when  the  Seventh 
Regiment  returned,  covered  with  eclat  and  glory,  we  marched  our 
Veterans  of  five  hundred  strong  down  Broadway  to  meet  the  boys 
when  they  came  back,  and  I  say  to-day,  and  I  say  this  hour  to-night, 
and  without  fear  of  contradiction,  that  if  the  Governor  of  the  State 
of  New  York,  or  the  Mayor  of  the  City  of  New  York  desired  the 
services  of  the  Veteran  Organization  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  there 
is  not  a  man  but  who  would  respond  to  the  call.  (Tremendous  ap- 
plause.) Such  is  the  pride  of  the  organization.  Such  is  the  value 
of  the  organization,  without  a  peer  in  the  land ;  without  an  organi- 
zation like  it,  composed  of  a  body  of  men  who  know  their  duty,  and 
are  not  afraid  to  perform  it.  (Cheers.) 

Mr.  JACKSON  S.  SCHULTZ  : 

Mr.  Chairman  and  Fellow  Members — I  regard  it  as  a  very  fortu- 
nate circumstance  that  so  much  time  has  intervened  between  the 
issuing  of  the  address  on  behalf  of  the  Colonel,  and  the  present  time, 
because  we  come  up  to  the  consideration  of  the  subject  calmly  to- 
night. If  we  had  been  called  earlier  we  might  have  expressed  some 
excited  feelings.  We  might  have  shown  some  emotion,  but  now  we 
are  all  love  and  kindness.  But  before  we  disband  this  organization 
(laughter),  and  before  we  send  our  uniforms  down  to  Chatham  street 
in  this  city,  I  propose  to  review  for  a  few  short  moments  some  of  the 
considerations  which  I  think  ought  to  weigh  in  our  minds,  and  that 
of  the  public.  I  remember  very  well  when  our  regiment  moved 
down  to  the  front,  and  I  remember  the  riot  which  succeeded  their 
going  away,  and  I  remember  with  what  uniform  alacrity  the  exempt 
corps,  or  the  exempt  members  of  the  regiment,  as  they  were  called, 
came  to  the  armory  to  defend  it.  They  had  not  very  many  muskets, 
not  one  serviceable;  but  they  did  not  close  the  windows;  they  did 
not  barricade  the  doors ;  they  threw  them  all  open,  and  exposed 
themselves  with  such  arms  as  they  could  find,  and  told  the  mob  to 


86 

come  on.  That  was  the  conduct  of  the  Seventh  Regiment  Veterans 
on  that  occasion,  and  those  who  were  there  will  recall  that  that 
was  the  best  policy  we  thought  we  could  adopt.  We  saw  the  mob 
surging  by,  but  they  did  not  disturb  the  armory.  Now,  what  fol- 
lowed ?  That  is  of  more  importance.  The  regiment  had  gone  to 
the  front .;  they  had  left  a  large  number  of  sick  members  behind ; 
some  were  so  engaged  that  they  could  not  go;  they  were  gathered 
together  in  the  armory;  they  made  drill  masters,  and  we  com- 
menced recruiting  for  the  regiment;  but  I  cannot  now  recall  the 
number ;  but  it  was  one  or  two  hundred  that  were  enlisted  by  the 
approbation  of  the  various  companies,  and  these  gentlemen  were 
being  drilled  while  their  uniforms  were  being  made  up  in  the  armory. 
Finally  we  heard  that  the  regiment  was  in  trouble;  we  did  not 
know  how  they  were  situated  for  food  and  so  forth;  we  went  to 
work,  and  in  sending  down  recruits  sent  them  down  a  steamer  load 
of  provisions,  which  was  an  act  that  we  thought  very  serviceable. 
During  that  whole  period  there  were  not  less  than  two  or  three 
hundred  members  of  the  veterans,  all  of  the  exempt  corps,  occupy- 
ing that  drill-room  and  doing  service,  and,  as  I  thought,  with  the  en- 
tire approbation  of  the  active  regiment  at  the  front.  I  have  been 
vain  enough  and  foolish  enough  all  these  years  to  think  that  we 
were  doing  a  valuable  thing,  something  that  was  appreciated, 
especially  by  the  regiment,  and  never  in  all  my  life  have  I  heard  a 
suggestion  from  any  gentleman  who  signed  that  pronunciamento 
that  we  were  not  doing  a  good  thing.  I  was  associated  with  the 
committee  that  built  this  armory.  I  believe  I  was  chairman  of  it. 
(Applause.)  I  remember  that  they  took  good  care  to  put  an  equal 
number  of  veterans  on  the  committee.  This  armory  was  built. 
We  associated  with  them  on  equal  terms.  There  never  was  a  sug- 
gestion that  we  were  not  serviceable,  and  not  wanted. 

Now  I  want  to  call  your  attention  to  a  fact  which  I  have  spoken 
of  once  before,  and  I  regard  it  as  the  most  important  element  in 
the  whole  case.  I  say  that  the  State  of  New  York  and  the  United 
States  can  not  afford  to  dispense  with  any  military  force  which  is 
volunteer,  and  which  is  inexpensive.  It  is  possible  that  we  may 
have  war  in  the  future  with  some  foreign  government.  It  is  possi- 
ble that  we  may  be  called  upon  to  organize  and  drill  three  or  four 
hundred  thousand  men  within  a  very  short  time,  say  within  a  few 


37 

weeks.  Under  such  circumstances  I  venture  to  think  there  is  not  a 
gray  hair  here  to-night  that  would  not  be  serviceable.  I  remember, 
sir,  in  1859,  I  happened  to  be  in  England  when  the  volunteer 
service  was  just  coming  into  vogue.  They  had  some  trouble  with 
France,  and  were  therefore  getting  into  arms.  They  had  plenty  of 
arms  but  had  no  drill  officers.  A  friend  of  mine  in  mercantile  life 
introduced  me  to  a  gentleman  representing  one  of  the  regiments, 
and  he  confessed  that  to  be  the  difficulty.  They  did  not  want  to 
go  to  the  regular  service  for  drill  officers,  and  they  were  educating 
themselves,  and  it  was  with  great  difficulty  that  they  could  get  offi- 
cers ;  and  I  venture  to  say  that  if  one,  two,  or  three  hundred  drill 
officers  are  wanted  they  can  be  found  right  here.  I  say  again  the 
State  of  New  York  won't  pass  that  bill,  and  the  Governor  won't 
sign  it.  (Cheers.) 

We  can  better  afford  to  do  without  them,  than  they  can  afford  to 
do  without  us.  Those  men  at  Albany  and  at  Washington  have  too 
much  sense  to  dispense  with  any  service  which  is  as  effective  as  you 
have  here  to-night,  and  which  has  been  tendered  to  them  through 
all  these  years.  There  have  been  some  allusions  to  the  signers  of 
that  document.  I  know,  that  is  to  say,  I  believe,  that  Colonel 
Clark  could  not  have  had  anything  to  do  with  it,  and  I  will  tell  you 
why.  When  those  gentlemen  presented  that  address  to  him,  he 
should  have  looked  it  over,  and  he  should  have  said,  "  That  .does  not 
apply  to  my  veterans,  it  may  to  yours ;  I  do  not  know  them ;  they 
are  young  men,  mine  are  not;  look  at  them."  That  is  addressed  to 
boys  :  we  are  not  boys.  It  goes  on  to  speak  of  them  in  various  re- 
lations which  are  not  true,  and  the  Colonel  would  recognize  that  at 
once,  and  say, "  I  would  be  very  happy  to  sign  it ;  but  as  it  does  not 
apply  to  my  veterans,  of  course  I  cannot  sign  it."  He  signed  it 
without  reading  it.  (Cheers,  laughter,  and  applause.)  I  do  not 
say  it  is  so,  but  I  say  I  believe  it  is  so,  because  I  have  known  Colo- 
nel Clark  for  twenty  or  thirty  years.  He  has  always  been  a  con- 
sistent and  logical  man,  and  he  certainly  could  not  be  either  of 
those,  if  he  signed  that  document.  (Laughter.) . 

I  notice  by  the  World  newspaper,  in  an  interview  that  was  had, 
that  we  are  told  that  the  difficulty  about  this  Veteran  Corps,  and 
especially  speaking  of  us,  is  that  we  "  elected  officers  who  have 
plenty  of  money  and  put  up  good."  That  is  not  true.  We  all 

453359 


38 

know  it.  I  do  not  think  that  General  Shaler  meant  that,  and  I  do 
not  propose  to  hold  him  responsible  for  all  that  that  interviewer  said; 
but  he  did  not  talk  as  good  sense  and  as  truthfully  as  he  talks  with 
me.  The  trouble  is,  those  parties  have  got  themselves  into  a  diffi- 
culty, and  it  is  our  bounden  duty  to  help  them  out.  (Applause.) 

Now  let  us  be  a  little  serious.  The  Colonel  of  our  regiment  has 
signed  that  document,  under  what  circumstances  I  do  not  know. 
I  do  not  believe,  as  I  said  before,  under  favorable  circumstance ; 
but  we  have  got  to  live  with  them,  and  they  have  got  to  live  with 
us,  and  we  won't  let  them  go  away  from  us,  and  we  will  hug  them 
still ;  but  it  is  an  unfortunate  circumstance.  We  cannot,  of  course, 
associate  with  them,  if  the  rank  and  file  of  the  regiment  sympathize 
with  that  address.  If  they  should  do  it — I  do  not  think  they  will ; 
I  am  told  the  Board  of  Officers  do,  or,  rather,  a  majority  of 
them ;  it  is  unfortunate — our  relations  would  not  be  so  cordial  as  in 
the  past ;  but  I  do  not  want  the  rank  and  file  to  hold  any  public 
meeting,  get  up  any  excitement,  or  pass  any  resolutions,  and  take 
sides  with  the  veterans  or  against  the  officers ;  and  whenever  I  see 
that  going  on  I  shall  advise  against  it.  The  rank  and  file  may  pos- 
sibly stand  by  their  officers.  It  is  a  military  thing ;  it  has  nothing 
to  do  with  the  regiment.  The  officers  have  made  a  mistake,  one 
which  they  will  regret  all  their  lives;  but  let  us  not  make  a  mis- 
take by  getting  the  men,  the  rank  and  file,  into  a  difficulty  with 
their  officers.  (Applause.) 

When  I  meet  a  member  of  the  regiment  who  wants  to  talk  about 
this  I  will  say:  "  Do  not  talk  to  me  on  that  subject;  I  will  talk  to 
your  officers."  Whenever  we  get  the  companies  agitated  about  a 
matter  of  this  kind  they  may  go  wrong  and  lead  to  dispute.  When 
the  time  comes,  if  it  becomes  necessary  to  lay  off  our  uniforms,  al- 
though, unfortunately,  I  have  a  new  one,  I  will  lay  it  aside — I 
will  send  it  down  to  Chatham  street,  and  have  it  sold ;  but  don't  do 
anything  that  will  injure  the  Seventh  Regiment.  (Cheers.) 

MR.  JOHN  H.  GARDNER  : 

Mr.  Chairman — I  have  been  connected  and  associated  with 
this  regiment  for  over  fifty  years.  In  it  I  had  two  brothers, 
a  brother-in-law,  a  son,  and  three  nephews,  and  I  assure  you, 
gentlemen,  that  this  outrageous  insult  that  is  now  put  upon  the 


39 

Veteran  Corps  by  Colonel  Clark  grieves  me  to  the  soul.  That  pas- 
sage that  was  read  here  by  our  friend  a  few  moments  ago  with 
regard  to  the  conduct  of  men  in  uniform,  if  it  means  anything, 
means  that  this  Veteran  Corps  have  been  guilty  of  ungentlemanly 
and  unsoldierly  conduct  in  uniform,  so  as  to  bring  disgrace  upon  the 
Seventh  Regiment  of  this  State.  That  is  as  plain  as  it  can  possibly 
be,  or  else  it  means  nothing  at  all.  Who  is  Colonel  Clark  that  he 
should  insult  a  respectable  body  of  men  like  this  ?  Is  it  the  same 
man  that  owes  to  you  and  other  members  of  this  regiment  the  very 
rank  he  holds  in  this  regiment — does  he  not  hold  it  by  some  of  your 
votes  ?  Is  it  he  that  should  insult  us  in  this  way  ?  Are  there  not 
in  the  ranks  of  this  Veteran  Corps  men  who  are  far  superior  to  him ; 
whose  standing  in  society,  socially,  intellectually,  and  in  every  other 
form,  far  his  superior  ?  (Voices  of  disapproval,  and  a  request  from 
the  Chair  not  to  be  personal. ) 

I  am  told  not  to  be  personal.  Is  it  possible  to  look  at  this  mani- 
festo issued  by  Colonel  Clark,  and  not  have  a  personal  feeling 
toward  him  with  regard  to  it  ?  Are  there  any  here  that  feel  less 
than  I  do  on  the  subject  ?  1  have  read  Major  Gardner's  communi- 
cation, in  which  he  says  that  the  signing  of  Colonel  to  that  paper 
is  ex-official,  and  therefore  the  title  of  Colonel  has  no  significance, 
leaving  him  simply  Emmons  Clark  as  the  man  who  issues  that 
document,  and  I  will  talk  about  him. 

There  is  no  better  authority  in  the  United  States  than  Major 
Gardner  on  this  subject.  I  do  not  wish  to  say  anything  that  will 
excite  the  members  of  the  Veteran  Corps,  but  I  feel  this  insult  deeply; 
and,  as  I  said  before,  there  are  many  members  of  this  corps  who  are 
more  than  his  equal  in  any  position  in  life  that  you  may  place  them. 
Those  of  you  who  were  on  Broadway  upon  that  memorable  day 
when  the  regiment  marched  down  for  the  defense  of  Washington, 
and  saw  a  piece  of  canvas  stretched  across  Broadway  on  which  was 
written  "  New  York  sends  her  jewels,"  had  you  looked  in  the  faces 
of  those  men  as  they  marched  down,  you  would  have  seen  in  their 
countenances  a  determination  to  do  or  die  for  their  country ;  and  if 
you  look  now  on  the  faces  before  you,  you  will  find,  if  you  scan, 
them  closely,  very  many  of  those  same  faces  that  you  saw  in  the  ranks 
that  day.  There  may  be  a  sprinkling  of  gray  hair,  but  they  are  the 
same  faces,  and  are  as  ready  to  go  to-day  to  the  defense  of  their 


40 

country  as  they  were  on  that  memorable  day.  New  York  never 
saw  such  a  day  as  that,  such  excitement  as  there  was,  and  God 
grant  we  shall  never  see  it  again.  Many  and  many  a  pillow  was  wet 
that  night  by  the  tears  of  mother,  wife,  and  sister,  and  yet  this  gen- 
tleman whose  name  I  am  not  permitted  to  use,  dares  to  issue  a 
manifesto  and  say  that  these  gentlemen  have  been  guilty  of  conduct 
unbecoming  a  soldier  and  unbecoming  a  gentleman  while  in  uni- 
form. While  I  say  this  with  regard  to  them,  I  will  say  a  few  words 
with  regard  to  the  active  regiment.  The  active  regiment  is  com- 
posed of  some  of  the  best  young  men  in  the  City  of  New  York,  from 
the  best  families,  and  many,  very  many  of  these  are  the  sons, 
grandsons,  and  nephews  of  members  of  this  corps.  Sir,  they  are  an 
honor  to  the  corps  to  which  they  belong,  but  they  did  not  make  the 
Seventh  Regiment  what  it  is.  It  was  the  members  of  this  Veteran 
Corps  that  did  that.  These  young  men  are  sustaining  it,  and  no 
doubt  they  will  continue  to  do  so ;  but,  sir,  they  did  not  make  it 
what  it  is.  It  was  you  and  others  here  who  have  made  its  reputa- 
tion. Fifty  years  ago,  when  I  was  a  member  of  the  regiment,  the 
active  regiment,  the  Twenty-seventh  Regiment  of  that  day,  was  the 
pride  of  the  City  and  State  of  New  York,  and  it  has  retained  its 
reputation  ever  since. 

With  this  feeling  with  regard  to  the  insult  that  has  been  put  upon 
us  I  would  not  have  members  of  the  Veteran  Corps  turn  their  backs 
on  this  regiment.  I  say  "  No  !  stick  to  it  with  your  might !  Stick 
to  the  old  flag!"  The  rash  man  who  has  made  this  charge  will  in  a 
short  time  have  passed  away  and  will  be  though/,  of  no  more,  while 
the  old  flag  will  float  to  the  wind  for  years  and  yc<  ...  to  c'-rae,  and  I 
trust  by  our  continued  help.  (Cheers.) 

Mr.  Bloomfield  Brower  offered  the  following  as  an  additional 
resolution  : 

MR.    BROWER'S  AMENDMENT. 

That,  if  considered  advisable  by  a  majority  of  the  Board  of  Man- 
agement, we  authorize  them  to  forward  to  the  Governor  of  this 
State,  a  copy  of  the  Circular  issued  bv  Generals  and  Colonels  of  the 
First  and  Second  Division  N.  G.  b.  «„,  V.,  together  with  such  state- 
ment as  may  be  made,  asking  for  official  action. 

After  a  short  discussion,   Mr.    Browtr  temporarily  withdrew  the 


41 

resolution,  which  he  subsequently  presented,  and  it  was  referred  to  the 
committee  appointed  under  the  resolution  of  General  Roome. 

Mr.  BLOOMFIELD  BROWER  : 

Mr.  Chairman — I  came  here  to-night  as  a  member  of  the  Veteran 
Association  and  to  repel  any  of  these  attacks  that  have  been  made 
upon  us.  I  regard  this  circular  as  an  attack  on  the  whole  Associa- 
tion, not  upon  the  Uniformed  Corps  alone.  (Applause.) 

I  have  known  Colonel  Clark  for  over  twenty-five  years.  I  was 
brought  up  in  the  same  company,  and  he  periodically  puts  hfs  foot 
into  it,  and  this  is  one  of  the  times. 

If  the  Colonel  wants  to  attack  this  Association,  let  him  come  in 
here  and  do  it.  He  had  abundant  opportunity  two  years  ago, 
when  I  offered  an  amendment  to  the  by-laws.  Why  should  we 
handle  him  with  gloves  ?  He  is  not  the  regiment ;  that  is  the  mis- 
take. He  is  not  the  regiment. 

Now  on  that  night  he  had  a  chance  to,  but  did  not  even  second 
my  amendment.  It  received  my  vote  only  when  I  knew  there 
were  twenty  men  at  least  present  who  were  in  favor  of  it,  but  they 
had  not  the  moral  courage.  I  have  not  changed  front.  I  think 
the  tail  has  been  wagging  the  dog  too  long,  and  that  is  the  trouble 
with  the  Uniformed  Association.  But  we  can  settle  it  right  here  in- 
side of  the  Association.  We  need  not  go  to  the  papers.  We  need  not 
be  ungentlemanly,  or  unofficerlike,  as  Colonel  Clark  and  his  associates 
in  that  circular  have  been.  If  we  could  try  him  to-day  without 
prejudice — and  we  are  not  fitted  for  it  as  we  stand — I  would  draw 
charges  against  him  and  every  member  of  the  Veteran  Association 
who  signed  that  circular.  We  have  our  remedy  :  to  go  to  Albany 
to  the  Governor.  He,  Colonel  Clark,  has  been  guilty  of  unofficer- 
like conduct  in  putting  that  circular  before  the  public  as  he  has 
done.  The  Governor  is  the  one  who  should  judge  this  thing.  He  is 
their  superior.  It  is  extra  official — or  whatever  you  may  call  it. 
They  had  no  right  to  issue  such  a  document.  There  is  where  it 
should  go,  and  that  is  the  reason  I  offered  that  amendment. 


42 

Commissary  Edward  Kemp  offered  the  following  as  a  substitute 
for  the  preamble  and  resolution  presented  by  General  Roome  : 

Whereas,  The  Division,  Brigade,  and  Regimental  Command- 
ers of  the  First  and  Second  Divisions,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.,  have  deemed 
it  expedient  to  sign  and  issue  a  Circular  condemning  the  practice 
adopted  by  "  Uniformed  Battalions  of  Veterans  of  the  National 
Guard,"  of  "  wearing  uniforms  and  designations  of  grade  similar  to 
those  in  use  by  the  National  Guard  issued  under  the  provisions  of  the 
Military  Code  " ; 

And  whereas,  We,  "  The  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regiment," 
believe  that  it  never  was  the  intent  of  "  the  Uniformed  Battalion 
of  the  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.,"  to  do  or 
suffer  to  be  done  anything  detrimental  to  the  Seventh  Regiment,  or 
in  violation  of  law. 

And  whereas,  It  is  evident  that  serious  differences  of  opinion  exist  as 
to  certain  questions,  which  in  the  interests  of  harmony  should  be 
settled  and  forever  put  at  rest  by  the  highest  authority  of  the  State  ; 

Therefore,  be  it  resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  fifteen  members  of 
this  Association  be  appointed  to  ascertain  and  report — 

1.  Whether  any  proceedings  have  ever  been  taken  or  sanctioned 
by  this  Association  exceeding  or  violating  its  chartered  privileges  or 
powers. 

2.  Whether  the  uniform  and  designation  of  grade  adopted  by  "  The 
Uniformed  Battalion- of  the  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  N. 
G.  S.  N.  Y.,"  are  within  the  meaning  of  Sections  59  of  the  Military 
Code  of  the  State  of  New  York  "  similar  to  those  in  use  by  the 
National  Guard  issued  under  the  provisions  of  the  Military  Code." 

3.  Whether  the  said  "  Uniformed  Battalion  "  is  a  lawfully  con- 
stituted organization. 

And  be  it  further  resolved,  That,  as  to  the  several  questions 
already  suggested,  or  which  in  the  course  of  investigation  may  arise, 
the  said  Committee  be  authorized  and  empowered  to  request  and 
obtain  the  opinions  of  the  Attorney-General  and  Adjutant-General 
of  the  State  of  New  York. 


43 

Colonel  JOHN  FOWLER,  Jr.,  spoke  as  follows: 

Mr.  Chairman : — The  right  of  the  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regi- 
ment to  wear  uniforms  and  designations  of  grade  similar  to  those  in 
use  by  the  National  Guard  has  been  challenged. 

A  protest  has  been  issued  by  a  large  number  of  gentlemen,  so 
respectable  in  personal  character,  and  so  high  in  military  rank,  that 
we  cannot  afford  to  ignore  them.  A  paper  signed  by  the  Division, 
Brigade,  and  Regimental  Commanders  of  the  First  and  Second  Divis- 
ions, deserves  and  should  meet  our  respectful  attention,  especially 
when  that  paper  openly  denies  a  right  that  several  hundred  mem- 
bers of  our  Association  have  assumed,  in  good  faith,  no  doubt,  to 
exercise. 

It  seems  to  me  that  the  report  of  the  committee  fails  to  touch  the 
main  question  we  have  been  convened  to  consider,  namely,  the 
right  to  wear  uniforms  and  designations  of  grade. 

(Cries  of  "Oh!  oh!"  "Sit  down,  Colonel,  you're  on  the  wrong 
side."; 

I  am  here  by  no  man's  courtesy.  I  am  here  because  I  am  a 
Veteran  of  the  Seventh  Regiment ! 

(Applause,  and  cries  of  "  Go  on,"  mingled  with  cries  of  "  Out  of 
order.") 

The  association  known  as  the  "  Veterans  of  the  National  Guard  " 
was  chartered  by  the  Legislature  in  1861  as  a  benevolent  corpora- 
tion. Its  name  was  subsequently  changed  to  the  "  Veterans  of  the 
Seventh  Regiment.''  The  charter  makes  no  reference  to  military 
purposes.  It  contains  nothing  whatever  to  warrant  the  formation 
of  even  a  quasi-military  body. 

All  arguments  that  have  thus  far  been  put  forth  in  support  of  the 
right  to  maintain  a  uniformed  battalion,  proceed  upon  the  mistaken 
idea  that  the  Charter  creates  a  military  corporation. 

Upon  this  assumption,  it  is  further  urged  that  our  Association 
being  within  the  spirit,  if  not  within  the  letter  of  the  Charter,  a  "  Mili- 
tary Organization,"  as  defined  by  Section  75  of  the  Military  Code,  is 
exempt  from  the  penalties  prescribed  by  Section  59  of  the  Code. 

I  desire  to  discuss  the  questions  thus  raised,  and  if  I  cannot  win 
your  applause,  I  hope,  at  least,  to  receive  your  kind  attention.  (Cries 
of  "Out  of  order.") 


44 

Let  us  approach  the  subject  calmly,  and  reason  together  with 
moderation.  The  legal  right  of  the  Veterans  to  wear  uniforms  and 
designations  of  grade  similar  to  those  in  use  by  the  National  Guard, 
is  a  question  that  has  been  raised.  It  is  squarely  before  us  to-night ; 
it  is  a  question  that  sooner  or  later  must  be  met,  and  we  may  as 
well  meet  it  now.  The  question  is  one,  not  of  sentiment,  to  be 
argued  with  warmth;  but  a  cold-blooded  question  of  corporation 
law.  The  technicalities  of  military  law  have  nothing  to  do  with  the 
subject. 

A  corporation  being  a  mere  creature  of  the  statute  can  exercise  no 
other  powers  than  those  which  the  statute  creating  it  confers.  Now 
let  us  see  what  are  the  objects  to  promote  which  our  Charter  was 
granted.  Those  objects  are  distinctly  enumerated ;  they  all  point 
to  the  purposes  of  benevolence,  and  to  nothing  else.  There  is  nothing 
whatever  in  the  original  Charter,  nor  in  any  amendment  thereof,  that 
indicates  in  the  slightest  degree  a  legislative  intent  to  constitute 
"The  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regiment"  a  military  organization. 
This  proposition  being  once  established,  it  will  not  be  difficult  to 
show  that  the  members  of  the  Uniformed  Battalion  are  at  this  mo- 
ment subject  to  the  penalties  prescribed  by  Section  59  of  the  Military 
Code.  (Cries  of  "Order!  Order!  Out  of  order.") 

[The  chairman  here  called  Col.  Fowler  to  order  on  the  ground 
that  the  opinion  of  Colonel  Gardner  and  Mr.  Janeway,  in  support 
of  the  right  claimed  by  the  Uniformed  Battalion,  was  not  before 
the  Association  for  discussion.]  Col.  Fowler  then  said  : 

So  far  as  the  feelings  of  this  assemblage  are  concerned,  I  certainly 
appear  to  be,  as  some  gentlemen  have  already  said,  "  on  the  wrong 
side."  I  do  not  think  I  am  "  on  the  wrong  side  " ;  but  I  shall  pursue 
my  line  of  argument  no  further.  You  do  not  wish  to  hear  me. 

Allow  me  to  say,  however,  that  come  what  will,  there  must  be  no 
break  in  the  chain  of  that  warm  friendship  which  for  so  many  years 
has  bound  the  regiment  and  its  veterans  together.  (Loud  applause.) 

The  two  organizations  animated,  as  I  sincerely  hope  they  will  be 
in  the  future,  as  they  have  been  in  the  past,  by  a  common  purpose, 
should  continue  to  move  forward  on  parallel  lines  toward  a  common 
object :  the  regiment  seeking  by  all  honorable  means  to  maintain  the 
splendid  reputation  it  has  labored  so  many  years  to  achieve,  and  we, 
the  Veterans,  striving  in  all  lawful  ways  to  increase  the  usefulness,  to 


45 

promote  the  prosperity,  and  to  advance  the  fame  of  the  regiment. 
(Loud  applause.) 

A  vote  was  then  taken  on  Commissary  Edward  Kemp's  substitute 
and  it  was  declared  lost,  having  received  but  few  affirmative  votes. 

The  question  was  then  put  upon  the  preamble  and 
resolutions  offered  by  Gen.  Roome,  and  they  were 
adopted  without  a  dissenting  voice. 

Captain  Edward  G.  Arthur  then  read  the  Supplementary  Report  of 
the  Committee  of  the  Board  of  Management  hereinbefore  printed 
(p-  24). 
CAPTAIN  JOHN  C.  GIFFING  said: 

In  the  course  of  the  duties  devolving  upon  the  Committee,  some 
letters  and  official  communications,  came  to  their  notice  which 
should  be  read  this  evening,  that  members  may  be  informed  of 
the  position  that  we  occupy  in  the  premises. 

The  Secretary  then  read  the  following  letters : 

HEADQUARTERS  SEVENTH  REGIMENT,  } 
NATIONAL  GUARD,  S.  N.  Y., 

NEW  YORK,  May  6th,  1876.  ) 
GEN.  MARSHALL  LEFFERTS, 

Commanding  Veterans  of  National  Guard: 

GENERAL — This  regiment  has  decided  to  encamp  at  Philadel- 
phia in  July  next,  and  will  leave  New  York  on  Saturday,  the  first 
day  of  that  month,  for  that  purpose;  understanding  that  the  Veteran 
Association  will  visit  Philadelphia  on  Monday,  July  3d,  I  beg  leave 
to  tender  the  services  of  this  regiment  as  an  escort  to  your  command 
on  its  arrival  in  Philadelphia,  and  to  assure  you  that  it  will  afford 
great  pleasure  to  the  officers  and  members  of  this  regiment  to  meet 
their  comrades  as  proposed.  Hoping  that  it  will  be  convenient  and 
agreeable  to  you  to  honor  this  regiment  by  accepting  it  as  your 
escort, 

I  remain,  with  great  respect, 

Yours  truly, 

EMMONS  CLARK, 
Col.  Commanding  Seventh  Regiment  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y. 


46 

NEW  YORK,  May  22,  1876. 
COL.  EMMONS  CLARK, 

Commanding  Seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.  : 

MY  DEAR  COLONEL — It  is  with  more  than  ordinary  pleasure  that 
I  acknowledge  receipt  of  your  communication  of  the  6th  instant, 
offering  an  escort  to  the  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  upon 
their  arrival  in  Philadelphia  on  the  3d  July. 

A  courtesy  like  this  comes  with  pleasant  grace  from  the  active  men 
of  the  regiment,  to  those  who  have  graduated  honorably  from  its 
ranks,  (many  of  them  fathers  of  those  doing  active  duty,)  and  those 
gray  with  years,  who  still  look  with  pride  and  solicitude  upon  the 
"  tramp  of  the  boys,"  in  whose  keeping  now  lies  the  future  of  the 
corps. 

I  will  at  an  early  day  acquaint  you  with  the  proposed  movement 
of  the  Veterans  as  to  time  of  departure  from  the  city,  etc.,  etc.,  and 
am, 

My  dear  Colonel, 

Yours  truly, 

MARSHALL  LEFFERTS, 
Colonel  Commanding  Veterans  Seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y. 


HEADQUARTERS  SEVENTH   REGIMENT,  } 
NATIONAL  GUARD,  S.  N.  Y., 

NEW  YORK,  June  15,  1876.  ) 

MY  DEAR  SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
yours  of  i3th  instant,  and  desire  to  express  the  pleasure  which  it  will 
afford  the  officers  and  members  of  this  regiment,  to  be  informed  that 
the  Veterans  have  been  assigned  a  place  in  line  in  immediate  con- 
nection with  this  regiment,  at  the  4th  of  July  parade  in  Philadelphia. 
Hoping  that  the  excursion  will  bring  pleasure  and  honor  to  both 
organizations,  and  will  cement  the  bonds  of  union  and  friendship 
which  must  ever  exist  between  them, 

I  remain,  with  great  respect, 

Yours  truly, 

EMMONS  CLARK, 

To  C.  B.  BOSTWICK,  Colonel  Commanding  Seventh  Regiment, 

Adjutant,  V.  N.  G.  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y. 


47 

HEADQUARTERS  SEVENTH  REGIMENT,      } 

NATIONAL  GUARD,  S.  N.  Y., 
NEW  YORK,  July  24,  1877.     6  P.M.  ) 

MY  DEAR  GENERAL — Yours  this  date  is  received,  and  I  take  the 
earliest  opportunity  to  reply.  We  do  not  think  that  the  Regiment  will 
be  ordered  to  leave  New  York  City,  for  obvious  reasons.  But  in  case 
it  should,  we  would  be  most  happy  to  place  our  armory  in  charge 
of  the  Veterans,  and  know  that  it  would  in  that  case  be  amply  and 
ably  protected.  Or  in  case  the  Regiment  should  be  called  for  active 
duty  in  any  part  of  the  city,  we  should  be  glad  to  leave  the  armory 
in  charge  of  the  Veterans,  as  you  suggest.  In  case  the  assistance  of 
the  Veterans  should  be  needed  as  above,  or  in  any  other  particular, 
I  will  hasten  to  communicate  with  Colonel  Pond  or  yourself,  or 
both.  I  have  not  heard  from  Colonel  Pond  on  account  of  his 
absence  from  the  City. 

With  great  respect, 

Yours  truly, 
GEN.  J.  H.  LIEBENAU,  EMMONS  CLARK, 

Lieut. -CoL  Veteran  Corps.  Commanding  Seventh  Regiment. 


HEADQUARTERS  SEVENTH  REGIMENT,  > 
NATIONAL  GUARD,  S.  N.  Y., 

NEW  YORK,  July  25,  1877.        ) 

GENERAL — As  it  is  possible  that  this  Regiment  may  be  on  active 
duty  to-night,  I  think  it  would  be  well  to  have  as  many  of  the 
Veterans  at  the  armory  at  8  P.M.  as  possible.  Should  you  agree 
with  me,  I  think  they  should  be  privately  notified,  and  that  no  pub- 
licity should  be  given  to  the  matter  in  the  papers  or  by  any  bulletin. 
If  they  will  come  to  the  armory  in  citizen's  dress,  with  fatigue  cap 
in  pocket,  to  be  worn  as  a  badge  of  distinction  in  armory,  no  pub- 
licity will  be  possible.  Everything  to  avoid  exciting  the  public 
mind  is  at  present  advisable. 

Yours  truly, 

EMMONS  CLARK. 
To  GEN.  LIEBENAU. 


48 

HEADQUARTERS  SEVENTH  REGIMENT,  ^ 
NATIONAL  GUARD  S.  N.  Y., 

NEW  YORK,  Aug.  10,  1877.  ) 

COLONEL — I  desire  to  express  to  you  the  thanks  of  the  officers 
and  members  of  this  regiment  for  the  prompt  tender  of  aid  and 
assistance  from  the  Veteran  Association  on  the  24th  day  of  July, 
and  especially  to  acknowledge  the  welcome  presence  of  many  offi- 
cers and  members  of  your  organization  at  the  armory  during  the 
evening  of  Wednesday,  July  25th,  at  which  time  it  was  expected 
that  the  regiment  would  be  ordered  from  the  armory  to  protect  the 
public  peace. 

It  is  a  source  of  pleasure,  pride,  and  confidence  to  the  officers  and 
members  of  the  regiment  to  know  that  on  all  occasions  there  is  a 
large  and  well-organized  corps  of  veteran  members  ready  and  will- 
ing to  give  their  active  and  effective  support  if  required. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  my  official  report  to  Brigade 
Headquarters,  dated  August  6,  1877: 

"  The  commandant  also  gratefully  notices  the  offer  of  assistance 
"  from  the  Veteran  Association  of  his  Regiment.  On  Wednesday 
"  evening  a  large  number  of  the  Veteran  Corps  under  Lieut.-Colonel 
*'  J.  H.  Liebenau,  reported  at  the  armory  to  guard  the  premises  in 
"  case  the  regiment  was  called  to  any  other  section  of  the  city,  and 
"  to  perform  any  other  service  that  might  be  required." 
With  great  respect, 

Yours  truly, 

EMMONS  CLARK, 

Col.  Commanding  Seventh  Regt.,  N.  G.  S.  JV.  Y. 
To  COLONEL  W.  A.  POND, 

Commanding  Veterans  National  Guard. 


HEADQUARTERS  SEVENTH  REGIMENT,  } 
NATIONAL  GUARD,  S.  N.  Y., 

NEW  YORK,  Feb.  9,  1880.  ) 

I  write  to  invite  the  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regiment  to  pa- 
rade as  a  part  of  the  escort  on  the  day  of  removal  from  the  old 
armory  to  the  new.  The  Sixty-ninth  and  Seventy-first  Regiments 
have  already  tendered  their  services  as  escort  to  the  Regiment.  It 


49 

may  be  that  other  Regiments  will  also  desire  to  manifest  in  the  same 
way  their  kindly  interest  in  the  fortunes  of  our  corps.  But  what- 
ever the  number  of  organizations  may  contribute  to  the  magnitude 
of  the  parade,  the  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  will  have  a  place  in  the 
column  which  you  may  consider  most  desirable,  appropriate,  and 
honorable. 

Hoping  that  you,  and  those  you  represent,  will  find  it  convenient 
and  agreeable  to  parade  with  the  Regiment  in  April  next,  on  the 
occasion  above  referred  to,  I  remain, 

With  great  respect, 

Yours  truly, 

EMMONS  CLARK, 

Col.  Commanding  Seventh  Regiment. 
To  COLONEL  W.  A.  POND, 

Commanding  Veterans  Seventh  Regiment. 


HEADQUARTERS  SEVENTH  REGIMENT,  > 
NATIONAL  GUARD,  S.  N.  Y., 

NEW  YORK,  May  8,  1880.  ) 

MY  DEAR  COLONEL — I  hand  you  herewith  your  letter  referred 
to  me  by  Rader,  with  indorsement.  I  am  sure  you  will  greatly 
oblige  Major  Smith  and  the  members  of  Board  of  Officers  Commit- 
tee if  you  make  Edward  Kemp  Chairman  of  the  Veteran 
Committee  and  support  him  with  such  live  men  as  Winchester, 
Montanye,  John  Kemp,  Edward  G.  Arthur,  James  Ray,  loth  Co., 
etc.,  etc.  The  Fair  taught  us  who  were  working  and  business  men, 
and  who  are  sure  to  make  anything  successful  that  they  are 
interested  in.  Very  truly,  your  friend. 

EMMONS  CLARK. 
COLONEL  POND. 


MAY  8th,  1880. 

MY   DEAR  COLONEL — It  was  not  expected  that  the  Committee 

would  necessarily  consist  of  one  Field,  one  Staff,  and  one  Officer  from 

each  company.     Simply  that  the  number  of  committee  of  Veteran 

Officers  should  be  twelve;  same  number  as  Board  of  Officers  Com- 

4 


50 

mittee.  It  would  probably  make  plainer  sailing  if  Major  Smith  is 
the  only  field  officer  on  the  committee,  except  yourself  and  myself 
ex-officio.  I  think  that  it  will  be  well  to  have  an  Auxiliary  Committee 
of  five  from  each  Veteran  company,  and  that  probably  was  the  in- 
tention of  the  writer  of  the  resolution. 

Yours  truly, 

EMMONS  CLARK. 
COLONEL  POND. 


HEADQUARTERS  SEVENTH  REGIMENT,  } 
NATIONAL  GUARD,  S.  N.  Y., 

NEW  YORK,  June  17,  1881.  ) 

COLONEL  E.  M.  CRAWFORD, 

Commanding  Veterans  Seventh  Regiment : 

DEAR  COLONEL — I  consent  to  the  Band  wearing  the  uniform  be- 
longing to  the  Regiment  on  the  23d  inst.,  and  to  the  use  of  one  of 
the  squad  drill-rooms  by  the  Adjutant  of  the  Veterans  for  the  instruc- 
tion of  non-commissioned  staff  and  sergeants.  Mr.  Wernig,  band- 
master, and  Mr.  Edwards,  superintendent,  will  attend  to  this  upon 
presentation  of  this  communication. 

Yours  hastily, 

EMMONS  CLARK, 
Col.  Seventh  Regiment. 


HEADQUARTERS  SEVENTH  REGIMENT,  } 
NATIONAL  GUARD,  S.  N.  Y., 

NEW  YORK,  Oct.  15,  1881.  ) 
COLONEL  E.  M.  CRAWFORD, 

Commanding  Veterans  Seventh  Regiment: 

COLONEL — I  have  the  honor  to  invite  the  field  and  staff  of  the 
Veterans  Seventh  Regiment  to  meet  Governor  Long,  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  the  Officers  of  the  First  Corps  of  Cadets,  at  the  Board 
of  Officers'  Room,  Armory,  on  Friday,  October  2ist,  at  5  o'clock 

P.M. 

Very  respectfully, 

EMMONS  CLARK, 

Colonel  Commanding. 


51 

NEW  YORK,  Oct.  19,  1881. 

DEAR  COLONEL — General  Shaler  and  Staff  will  come  on  Friday  in 
uniform.  I  thought  you  would  like  to  know  this,  as  it  may  influence 
the  action  of  Veteran  Field  and  Staff. 

Yours  truly, 

EMMONS  CLARK. 
COLONEL  CRAWFORD. 


HEADQUARTERS  SEVENTH  REGIMENT,  } 
NATIONAL  GUARD,  S.  N.  Y., 

NEW  YORK,  Oct.  14,  1882.  ) 
COLONEL  E.  M.  CRAWFORD: 

DEAR  COLONEL — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
yours  1 3th  instant,  and  take  great  pleasure  in  granting  permission 
(as  requested)  to  use  the  large  drill-room  at  armory  for  assembling 
and  forming  of  Veterans  of  Seventh  Regiment,  Thursday  P.M.,  igth 
instant. 

With  great  respect, 

Yours  truly, 

EMMONS  CLARK, 
Commanding  Seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  JV.  Y 


HEADQUARTERS  SEVENTH  REGIMENT,  ) 
NATIONAL  GUARD,  S.  N.  Y., 

NEW  YORK,  June  10,  1883.      ) 

DEAR  COLONEL — I  am  in  receipt  of  invitation  to  be  present  at  a 
Clam  Bake  at  Rocky  Point  on  i8th  inst,  and  would  be  very  happy 
to  meet  the  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regiment  on  that  pleasant  oc- 
casion, but.  my  engagements  are  of  a  character  so  exacting  that  it 
will  be  impossible  for  me  to  accept  your  polite  invitation,  which  I 
greatly  regret. 

Hoping  that  all  who  participate  in  the  proposed  festivities  will 
fully  realize  the  pleasure  anticipated,  I  am,  with  great  regard, 

Yours  truly, 

EMMONS  CLARK, 

COL.  L.  W.  WINCHESTER,  Colonel. 

Veterans  Seventh  Regiment, 

New  York  City. 


52 

Upon  the  conclusion  of  the  reading  by  the  Adjutant  of  these 
communications, 

BVT.-MAJOR  GEORGE  P.  EDGAR  said: 

Mr.  Chairman — I  want  to  say  to  this  Association  of  which  Colonel 
Clark  is  a  member,  and  once  served  as  a  Major,  that  in  the  last  few 
days  we  were  quite  agitated,  and  are  now  getting  over  it.  Colonel 
Clark,  in  his  circular  -  and  we  call  it  that — says  kind  words  to  the 
war  veterans,  and  hopes  that  the  Uniformed  Battalion  of  our  Associa- 
tion will  not  longer  exist,  because  it  adds  insult  continually  to  those 
who  earned  honors  in  the  field.  That  is.  very  pretty.  Colonel  Clark 
uttered  those  sentiments  personally  in  my  hearing,  and  he  has  put 
them  on  record.  I  wish  simply  to  say  that  Colonel  Clark,  as  Colonel 
of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  has  not,  to  my  knowledge,  ever  invited 
any  of  the  veterans  who  earned  those  honors,  to  parade  at  any  time 
with  the  Seventh  Regiment.  Never  once  since  1865,  when  most  of 
us  came  home.  There  was,  one  time  in  the  Academy  of  Music, 
quite  a  compliment  given  to  the  young  men  who  went  to  the  front. 
I  will  say  this — that  the  present  Colonel  of  the  Veterans  did  honor 
the  war  veterans  in  this  Association  by  inviting  them  to  parade  with 
his  Staff  on  Centennial  Evacuation  Day.  I  deem  it  but  fair  that  the 
record  should  be  made;  there  is  one  item  that  the  gentlemen  of  the 
Board  of  Managers  have  overlooked;  they  have  not  all  the 
record;  Colonel  Clark,  on  November  nth,  1878,  in  an  appeal  to 
the  people  of  New  York,  said  several  very  kind  things  when  he  asked 
them  for  $100,000  more  to  finish  this  armory.  He  then  said,  "Sub- 
scriptions may  be  forwarded  to  either  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Fund, 
Royal  Phelps,  J.  Lenox  Kennedy,  W.  Astor,  R.  M.  Weed,  or  John 
J.  McLaren,  Paymaster  of  the  Veterans,  17  William  Street." 

Mr.  WILLIAM  H.  FARNUM  : 

Mr.  Chairman — I  have  not  heard  a  single  word  said  in  praise 
of  Colonel  Clark.  I  propose,  if  no  one  else  will  do  it,  to 
add  my  mite  of  praise  to-night.  I  admit,  in  this  manifesto,  and  for 
the  purposes  of  this  argument,  that  there  are  some  phrases 

Mr.  BROWER  :     I  call  the  gentleman  to  order. 
The  CHAIR  decided  the  point  of  order  well  taken. 


53 

Capt.  GIFFING  :  I  move  that  the  privilege  of  the  floor  be  ac- 
corded Mr.  Farnum. 

Seconded  and  adopted  with  but  few  dissenting  voices. 

Mr.  FARNUM  :  I  prefer  to  have  it  go  on  record,  that  the  only 
gentleman  who  stood  up  here  to  speak  for  Colonel  Clark  was  cut 
off. 


The  Chair  then  appointed  the  following  Committee  under  the 
resolutions  of  Bvt.  Brig.- Gen.  Roome,  viz. : 

Bvt.  Brig.-Gen.  Charles  Roome. 
Honorable  William  A.  Darling. 
Mr.  Jackson  S.  Schultz. 
Colonel  William  A.  Pond. 
Mr.  William  H.  Montanye. 
Quartermaster  Henry  H.  Holly. 

Mr.  WILLIAM  R.  MACDIARMID: 

Mr.  Chairman — As  the  gentleman  declines  to  proceed  with  his 
remarks,  and  as  we  have  made  out  our  case,  and  the  other  side 
has  put  forward  no  argument  to  sustain  themselves,  I  move  that 
we  do  now  adjourn. 

The  motion  was  put  and  declared  carried. 


54 

The  following  communication  from  Judge  Advocate  Asa  Bird 
Gardner,  LL.D.,  U.  S.  Army,  of  'the  Division  of  the  Atlantic,  con- 
tains interesting  facts  concerning  the  "  Veterans  of  the  Seventh 
Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.,"  as  an  independent  military  organization, 
which  it  is  believed  will  be  appreciated  by  all  concerned  : 

[Personal.]  JUDGE  ADVOCATE'S  OFFICE,  } 

GOVERNOR'S  ISLAND,  NEW  YORK  CITY,  > 

March  4,  1884.  ) 

COLONEL  LOCKE  W.  WINCHESTER, 

Commanding  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.  : 

MY  DEAR  COLONEL  :  I  return  herewith  the  copy  of  the  bill 
introduced  into  the  Assembly  to  amend  the  Military  Code  of  the 
State. 

The  section  which  you  had  marked  proposes  as  the  sole  amend- 
ment to  the  present  Section  75,  to  declare  it  unlawful,  and  to  make 
it  "  a  misdemeanor  for  any  body  of  men  whatsoever,  other  than  the 
"  regular  organized  corps  of  the  National  Guard  and  Militia,  and 
"  the  troops  of  the  U.  S.,  except  such  independent  military  organiza- 
tions as  are  now  in  existence,  *  *  *  to  assume  to  use  any 
"  title  or  titles  representing  military  rank  or  grade" 

This  penal  clause  is  broad  enough  to  include,  if  so  desired,  those 
highly  respectable  organizations  known  as  the  u  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic"  and  "  Boys  in  Blue,"  in  which  certain  military  titles  are 
used,  and  the  "  New  York  Commandery  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the 
U.  S.,"  in  which  membership  is  dependent  upon  honorable  service 
in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  It  would  also  legislate  directly  against 
those  who  were  officers  of  Volunteers  in  that  war,  and  honorably 
mustered  out  of  U.  S.  service,  and  who,  by  Section  1,226  of  the 
Revised  Statutes  of  the  United  States,  are  "  entitled  to  bear  the  offi- 
"  cial  title,  and  upon  occasions  of  ceremony  to  wear  the  uniform  of 
"  the  highest  grade  they  have  held  by  brevet  or  other  commissions 
"  in  the  Volunteer  Service." 

For  these  and  other  obvious  reasons  the  proposed  amendment 
ought  to  be  opposed  and  will  certainly  fail  of  enactment, 

Neither  the  present  Military  Code,  or  the  proposed  amendment, 
affects  in  any  way  whatever  the  status  of  that  honorable  body  of 


55 

which  you  are  the  Commandant,  because  the  u  Veterans  of  the 
"  Seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.,"  Chartered  by  the  Legislature 
by  that  name,  and  being  "  an  independent  military  organization — 
although  not  "  regularly  organized  as  an  organization  of  the  Na- 
tional Guard" — are  specially  excepted  in  the  section  as  now  exist- 
ing from  all  of  its  penal  prohibitions,  and  you  may  wear  such  uni- 
forms as  you  please,  and  the  designations  of  grades  of  office 
recognized  in  your  acts  of  incorporation,  and  parade  when  you 
please,  unless  such  parades  should  be  appointed  for  days  when  the 
National  Guard  are  forbidden  to  parade. 

You  are,  however,  made  subject,  by  the  present  Military  Code, 
"  to  the  orders  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  in  case  of  emergency  or 
"  necessity,  to  aid  the  National  Guard  in  quelling  invasion,  insurrec- 
"  tion,  riot,  or  breach  of  the  peace,"  a  duty  you  have  already  on 
several  occasions  performed  under  arms  most  satisfactorily  to 
the  community. 

I  saw,  with  regret,  in  the  daily  papers  of  February  igth  an  extra- 
official  statement,  signed  by  several  commanding  officers  in  the 
National  Guard,  reflecting  upon  the  legal  designation  and  uniform 
of  your  independent  military  organization. 

If  the  Governor,  as  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  State,  had  called 
upon  those  gentlemen  for  their  official  opinions  on  a  military  ques- 
tion in  their  collective  capacity,  such  concerted  action  and  use  of 
military  titles  to  their  signatures  would  have  been  appropriate. 

In  tne  absence  of  such  requirement,  or  of  any  law  or  general 
regulation  authorizing  it,  such  action,  collectively  or  individually, 
was  extra  official,  and  no  more  an  incident  of  their  official  station 
than  this  personal  letter  of  mine  to  you. 

The  commentary  is  all  the  more  pointed  when  it  is  considered 
that  complaint  is  therein  made  of  the  alleged  misuse  of  military 
titles  by  others,  and  also  of  the  use  by  your  organization  of  the 
name  given  to  it  by  the  Legislature,  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century 
ago. 

Some  of  the  gentlemen  whose  names  were  attached  to  that  docu- 
ment were  undoubtedly  misinformed,  and  I  am  glad  to  see  that 
several  have  already  either  withdrawn  them  or  contemplate  doing  so. 

Citizens  of  New  York,  who,  like  myself,  know  how  your  organiza- 
tion came  into  existence  as  a  part  of  the  Reserve  Militia,  and  what  its 


56 

members  have  done  for  the  Nation  and  State,  and  for  the  splendid 
Regiment  from  which  they  have,  as  it  were,  graduated,  cannot  but 
feel  that  great  injustice  has  been  done  your  command. 

Mr.  William  Swinton,  the  historian,  in  his  history  of  the  Seventh 
Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.  (edition  1870),  says:  "The  gth  of  May, 
"  1859,  is  an  historic  day  in  the  annals  of  that  Regiment,  because  it 
"  was  then,  that  the  famous  Association  of  the  exempt  members  of 
"  the  Seventh  Regiment  was  organized,  called  the  '  Veterans  of  the 
"  National  Guard:  " 

You  know  that  from  the  outset,  the  organization  was  essentially 
military  and  regimental,  and  instituted  on  that  basis,  each  company 
containing  those  who  had  formerly  served  in  the  like  company  of  the 
active  regiment. 

When  civil  war  seemed  imminent,  the  organization  sought  legisla- 
tive recognition,  and  was  duly  incorporated  March  nth,  1861,  as 
"  The  Veterans  of  the  National  Guard,  Seventh  Regiment,  ist  Divis- 
ion, New  York  State  Militia,"  a  title  changed  by  the  Legislature  in 
1878,  to  that  of  "  The  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.  S. 
N.  Y." 

I  have  been  informed  by  Charter  members  that  the  object   of 
Legislative  recognition  was  to  make  the  organization  more  efficient 
for  military  purposes  in  the  emergency  then  arising,  as  otherwise  they 
would  have  incorporated  under  the  general  law,  or  continued  a  vol 
untary  military  association  as  before. 

One  of  the  objects  specified  in  the  Act  of  1 86 r,  for  your  incor- 
poration, was  "to  preserve  and  continue  the  recollections  of 
service  in  the  National  Guard,"  and  I  recall,  that  the  veterans 
proceeded  immediately  to  do  so  by  forming  a  Uniformed  Battalion, 
for  such  military  service  as  might  be  necessary,  of  all  such  exempt 
and  honorably  discharged  members  as  chose  to  uniform  themselves. 

As  the  titles  of  the  officers  of  the  organization  were  strictly  mili- 
tary, and  of  a  regimental  character,  the  Legislature  recognized  their 
use  for  such  purpose,  when  it  declared  in  the  Act  that  those  officers 
should  hold  their  respective  offices  until  others  were  chosen  in  their 
stead. 

Again,  by  the  Act  of  April  19,  1882,  in  which  the  Legislature 
proceeded  to  authorize  the  creation  of  a  "  Benevolent  Fund  of  the 
Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  N.G.S.N.Y."  it  enacted  that 


57 

such  "fund  shall  be  administered  by  officers  of  said  Association,  who 
"shall  be  the  Colonel,  Paymaster,  and  Chaplain  of  said  Association,  as 
"  Trustees." 

This  was  a  distinctive  Legislative  recognition  for  the  second  time, 
of  the  titular  military  officers  of  a  regimental  character  in  your 
organization,  and  of  the  succession  therein ;  and,  until  the  Legis- 
lature shall,  by  special  act  amend  this  law,  you,  and  Paymaster 
Edward  A.  Kingsland,  and  Chaplain,  the  Rev.  J.  Tuttle  Smith, 
D.D.,  and  your  successors  in  office,  can  only  administer  this  fund 
by  these  special  legal  titles. 

In  looking  over  your  Act  of  Incorporation  of  1861,  I  find  among 
the  incorporators  such  honored  citizens  as  John  M.  Catlin,  long 
Colonel  of  the  active  regiment  and  the  first  Colonel  of  the  Veterans; 
Linus  W.  Stevens,  who  succeeded  him  in  April,  1861,  in  Command 
of  the  Veterans ;  Morgan  L.  Smith,  Washington  R.  Vermilye,  An- 
drew A.  Bremner,  and  Brigadier  and  Brevet  Major-General  Abram 
Duryee,  late  U.  S.  Vols.,  each  of  whom  had  been  Colonels  of  the 
active  regiment. 

Also  Brevet  Brig.-General  Charles  Roome,  late  U.  S.  Vols.,  who 
was  in  1861  Captain  of  one  of  the  Veteran  Companies  and  previ- 
ously Captain  in  the  active  regiment ;  Philetus  H.  Holt,  David  T. 
Valentine,  and  Adjutant  Asher  Taylor,  of  the  Veteran  organization, 
who  was  the  first  man,  when  in  the  active  regiment,  to  wear  its 
present  gray  uniform. 

Another  incorporator  was  the  lamented  Marshal  Lefferts,  who  was 
Colonel  of  the  active  regiment  from  1859-1864,  and  afterward 
Colonel  of  the  Veteran  Organization,  and  who  died  in  its  uniform 
when  accompanying  it  to  Philadelphia  in  1876. 

Surely  these  well-known  citizens  must  have  known  the  objects  of 
their  organization. 

Mr.  Swinton  has  graphically  described  how,  when  the  Seventh 
Regiment  was  about  to  proceed,  in  April,  1861,  to  the  defense  of  the 
Capitol,  the  Veterans  assembled  by  order  of  their  Colonel,  Linus  W. 
Stevens;  and  Colonel  Lefferts  formally  turned  over  to  his  organ- 
ization, the  protection  of  the  armory. 

On  April  27,  1861,  four  hundred  and  twenty-nine  members 
were  enrolled  in  the  Veteran  Organization,  and  on  April  30,  1861, 
Colonel  Stevens  officially  reported  his  command  for  duty  to  the  late 


58 

Major-General  Charles  Sandford,  then  Commanding  the  First  Di- 
vision, New  York  State  Militia,  and  they  were  armed  and  equipped 
by  the  State,  with  such  arms  and  accouterments  as  it  had  at  its  dis- 
posal. 

During  your  absence  as  a  Commissioned  Officer  with  the  active 
regiment,  I  witnessed  a  drill  by  Colonel  Stevens,  in  May,  1861,  of 
the  Uniformed  Battalion  of  the  Veteran  organization  in  the  old 
armory,  at  which  between  three  and  four  hundred  paraded  under 
arms,  uniformed  in  gray  shell  jackets,  gray  fatigue  caps,  and  black 
trousers. 

They  subsequently  formally  escorted  the  active  regiment  on  its 
return  from  .Virginia. 

The  uniform  was  certainly  not  an  appropriate  one  for  gentlemen 
of  mature  years,  but  it  will  be  difficult  to  perceive  what  can  be 
found  fault  with,  in  their  present  neat  and  serviceable  dress  of  dark 
blue,  which  no  one  can  mistake  for  the  gray  of  the  active  regiment, 
and  which  was  adopted  in  1874,  largely  through  the  efforts  of 
Colonel  Lefferts. 

It  is  true,  an  effort  has  been  made  in  the  extra-official  statement  to 
bring  into  disrepute  the  uniform  of  the  Veteran  Organization, 
although  the  Military  Code  is  particularly  careful  by  its  excepting 
clauses,  not  to  infringe  upon  or  prohibit  it  from  wearing  whatever 
uniform  it  may  desire. 

You  may  console  yourself,  however,  my  dear  Colonel,  by  the  re- 
flection that  the  services  of  your  Organization  in  1861,  in  the 
draft  riots  of  1863,  and  railroad  riots  of  1877,  have  not  been  for- 
gotten. 

From  April,  1861,  to  the  present  time  your  command  has  con- 
tinued to  preserve  and  maintain  its  distinctive  military  character  as 
an  independent  military  organization  in  the  Reserve  Militia,  and  to 
parade  in  uniform,  armed  and  equipped  as  by  law  provided,  when 
public  emergency  required  it,  and,  on  other  occasions,  merely  with 
side-arms,  the  latest  of  such  parades  having  been  on  the  official  occa- 
sion of  the  Centennial  Celebration  in  the  City  of  New  York,  on 
November  26,  1883,  of  its  evacuation  by  the  British  forces  in  1783. 

The  advantage  to  the  State  of  having  ready,  at  the  Commander- 
in-Chief's  call,  a  corps  of  citizens  uniformed  and  organized,  who 
have  by  faithful  voluntary  military  service  to  the  State  for  a  term  of 


59 

years  acquired  exemption  from  ordinary  military  duty,  is  apparent, 
and  the  present  Military  Code  distinctly  recognizes  this  fact  as  to 
those  organizations  in  existence  at  its  adoption. 

The  objection  that  members  of  the  active  regiment  prefer,  on 
termination  of  their  term  of  service,  to  take  their  honorable  discharge 
and  join  the  Veteran  Corps,  and  that  the  efficiency  of  the  active 
regiment  is  thereby  impaired,  can  have  no  foundation,  when  it  is 
considered,  as  I  am  credibly  informed,  that  most  of  the  companies 
of  the  active  regiment  are  at  a  maximum. 

I  think  the  gentlemen  of  your  organization  ought  not  to  be  dis- 
turbed at  the  indirect  attack  made  upon  it,  because  it  stands  in  so 
different  a  position  from  purely  voluntary  associations  unrecognized 
by  law,  and  which  have  never  had  a  distinctive  military  character. 

As  a  conservator  of  the  peace  your  command  has  shown  its  advan- 
tage for  twenty-three  years,  and  any  effort  to  withdraw  the  respect 
of  the  members  of  the  active  regiment  for  its  Veteran  Organization 
ought  to  meet  with  discouragement. 

I  am,  my  dear  Colonel,  very  truly  yours, 

ASA  BIRD  GARDNER. 


CONCLUDING   REMARKS. 

In  the  new  Military  Code  of  the  State  of  New  York,  enacted  by 
the  Legislature  April  23,  1883  {Chapter  299),  and  entitled  "An 
Act  to  provide  for  the  enrollment  of  the  Militia,  for  the  organization 
and  government  of  the  National  Guard  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
and  for  the  public  defense"  appears  certain  portions  of  sections  which 
may  be  considered  as  new  legislation  relative  to  future  organizations 
or  associations  of  a  military  character. 

As  they  are  alluded  to  by  Colonel  Emmons  Clark  in  his  foregoing 
circular,  dated  February  26,  1884,  and  given  by  him  a  construction 
entirely  opposed  to  their  context  and  clear  Legislative  intent,  they 
are  reprinted  in  order  to  show  that  the  Veterans  of  the  Seventh 
Regiment  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.  are  directly  excepted  from  their  operation, 
and  in  no  way  limited  thereby  or  deprived  of  any  pre-existing  right, 
privilege,  or  immunity. 


60 

(Extracts  from  the  Military  Code.} 

"  Section  59.  *  *  *  Any  person  not  a  member  of  the  National 
"  Guard  (the  organizations  included  in  section  seventy-five  of  this  act  ex- 
"  cepted),vf\io  shall  wear  any  uniform  or  designation  of  grade  similar  to 
"  those  in  use  by  the  National  Guard,  issued*  under  the  provisions 
"  of  the  Military  Code,  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor, 
"  and  shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  in  the  county  jail  for  not 
"  less  than  one,  nor  more  than  two,  months,  or  by  a  fine  of  not  more 
"  than  one  hundred,  nor  less  than  fifty,  dollars.  *  *  * 

"  Section  75. — It  shall  not  be  lawful,  but  it  shall  be  a  misde- 
"  meanor,  for  any  body  of  men  whatsoever,  other  than  the  regular 
"  organized  corps  of  the  National  Guard  and  Militia  and  the  troops 
"  of  the  United  States,  except  such  independent  military  organizations 
"  as  are  now  in  existence,  t  to  associate  themselves  together  as  a 
"  military  company  or  organization,  or  to  parade  in  public  with  fire- 
"  arms  in  any  city  or  town  of  this  State;  *  *  *  provided, 
"  that  associations  wholly  composed  of  soldiers  honorably  discharged 
"•from  the  service  of  the  United  States  may  parade  in  public  with 
"  fire-arms  on  Decoration  Day,  or  upon  the  reception  of  any  regi- 
"  ments  or  companies  of  soldiers  returning  from  said  service,  and  for 
"  the  purpose  of  escort  duty  at  the  burial  of  deceased  soldiers ; 
"  *  *  *  and  provided  further,  that  this  section  shall  not  be 
"  construed  to  prevent  any  organization,  authorized  to  do  so  by  law, 
"  from  parading  with  fire-arms. 

*  The  only  uniforms  or  designations  of  grade  which  can  be  issued  under  the  provisions  of  the 
Military  Code  are  those  prescribed  for  enlisted  men.  such  designations  of  grade  being  indicated  by 
chevrons,  common  to  all  the  Militia  of  the  Union.  Commissioned  officers  are  required  by  the  Code 
to  provide  their  own  uniforms  and  designations  of  rank  (Sec.  51,  52).  None  are  issued  to  them. 

t  When  this  section  was  submitted  to  the  Legislature  in  1883  for  adoption,  it  undertook  to 
•except  from  its  penal  provisions  and  prohibitions,  and  from  those  of  Section  59,  the  troops  of  the 
United  States  and  National  Guard,  and  only  "  such  independent  military  organizations  as  are 
now  in  existence  BY  LAW."  The  Legislature  deliberately  struck  out  the  words  "  by  law,""  before 
enacting  it,  so  that  not  only  all  independent  military  organizations  then  in  existence  (April  23, 
1883)  by  law  under  legislative  acts,  like  the  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  or  Twenty-second 
Regiment,  or  Old  Guard,  of  the  Reserve  Militia,  or  the  Albany  Burgess  Corps  or  Utica  Citizens' 
Corps,  were  specially  excepted,  but  also  those  purely  voluntary  uniformed  military  associations, 
such  as  the  veterans  of  the  Thirteenth,  Twenty-third,  Sixty-ninth,  and  Seventy-first  Regiments 
N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.,  and  the  Lincoln  Guard  of  the  City  of  New  York,  Jackson  Corps  of  Albany, 
Buffalo  City  Guard,  Greenleaf  Guard  of  Rochester,  and  the  like,  were  likewise  excepted,  and  at 
liberty,  as  heretofore,  to  wear  such  uniforms  and  designations  of  rank  as  they  pleased,  and  parade 
in  public  when  they  might  find  it  desirable,  subject  only  to  such  restrictions  as  to  times  of  parade 
as  are  common  to  the  National  Guard. 


61 

"  All  independent  military  organizations*  now  existing,  not  rfgu- 
"  larly  organized  as  organizations  of  the  National  Guard,  are  hereby 
"  made  subject  to  the  orders  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  in  case  of 
"  emergency  or  necessity,  to  aid  the  National  Guard  in  quelling  in- 
"  vasion,  insurrection,  riot,  or  breach  of  the  peace,  provided  the  offi- 
"  cers  and  members  of  such  organizations  shall,  when  so  called  upon, 
"  first  sign  and  execute  and  deliver,  through  the  Commandant,  to  the 
"  National  Guard  commander,  to  which  said  organization  is  ordered 
"  to  report,  a  form  of  enlistment,  in  form  to  be  prescribed  by  the 
"  Commander-in-Chief  in  regulations  or  orders,  for  a  term  not  less 
"  than  thirty  days  nor  more  than  ninety  days  at  one  time ;  and  in 
"  case  the  services  of  such  organizations  shall  not  be  required  for 
"  the  full  term  of  their  enlistment,  they  shall  be  discharged  by  order 
"  of  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

"  All  members  of  such  independent  organizations,  when  called 
"  into  the  service  of  the  State,  as  herein  provided  for,  shall  then  be 
"  armed,t  equipped,  and  paid  by  the  State,  and  shall  be  protected 
"  in  the  discharge  of  their  duties,  as  though  a  part  of  the  National 
"  Guard  of  the  State,  and  in  obeying  the  orders  of  the  Commander- 
"  in-Chief. 

"  Section  76. — Whoever  offends  against  any  of  the  provisions  of 
"  the  preceding  section,  or  belongs  to,  or  parades  with,  any  such 
"  unauthorized  body  of  men  with  fire-arms,  or  fails  to  respond  to 
"  do  duty  when  called  upon  by  the  Commander-in-Chief,  in  case  of 
"  necessity  or  emergency,  and  after  enlisting  or  refusing  to  enlist,  as 
"  provided  in  the  preceding  section,  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  not 
"  exceeding  the  sum  of  ten  dollars,  or  by  imprisonment  in  the 
"  county  jail  for  a  term  not  exceeding  six  months,  or  both." 


*  In  none  of  these  independent  military  organizations,  even  those  existing  under  Legislative 
Charters,  are  the  officers  commissioned  by  the  Governor,  although,  as  they  belong  to  the  Militia 
there  is  nothing  in  the  law  to  prevent  his  doing  so — in  his  discretion. 

\  The  intent  of  the  Legislature  is  here  very  apparent,  as  it  is  well  known  that  some  of  the 
purely  voluntary  and  unchartered,  independent  military  uniformed  associations,  like  the  Veterans 
of  the  Thirteenth,  Twenty-third,  and  Seventy-first  Regiments,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.  have  usually  pa- 
raded only  with  side  arms  and  not  with  muskets. 


62 

NOTE. — Prior  to  the  year  1879  it  was  customary  for  many  years , 
in  the  Seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.N.Y.,  and  in  some  other  regiments 
of  the  1st  Division,  for  many  members  of  companies  who  had  served 
their  time,  and  were  entitled  to  claim  their  full  and  honorable  dis- 
charges on  account  of  expiration  of  service,  to  continue  in  such  com- 
panies, and,  in  consequence,  such  companies  often  far  exceeded  the 
maximum  prescribed  by  the  Military  Code. 

By  a  tacit  understanding  such  members  who  were  entitled  to 
discharge,  attended  such  drills  and  parades,  as  their  business  or  pro- 
fessional occupations  would  permit,  but,  in  case  of  absences  there- 
from they  were  not  reported  as  delinquents,  in  like  manner,  as  the 
other  members  of  their  companies  who  had  not  served  their  time,  nor 
were  they  required  to  attend  Courts-Martial  and  make  excuses  for 
such  absences,  or  be  fined,  except  in  extreme  cases. 

In  1879  the  then  Inspector-General  undertook  to  enforce  strictly 
the  Military  Code,  a  policy  since  pursued,  and  to  insist  that  no  com- 
pany, should  have  a  greater  number  of  members  on  its  roll,  than  the 
law  permitted,  and  that  all  delinquents,  should  be  reported,  and  that 
the  aggregate  attendance  at  drills  and  parades,  of  the  effective 
strength  of  such  company,  should  be  considered  as  one  of  the  ele- 
ments in  determining  its  relative  standing,  during  the  year  for  effi- 
ciency and  discipline. 

This  policy  compelled  the  discharge  of  many  old  members,  who 
otherwise  would  have  continued  in  their  respective  companies. 

In  1880,  the  Legislature,  in  amending  the  then  "  Military  Code," 
undertook  to  meet  this  difficulty,  by  providing  that  members  of  com- 
panies, on  expiration  of  their  enlistment,  might  re-enlist  for  one  or 
more  years. 

Only  a  small  number  chose  to  avail  themselves  of  this  privilege, 
for  the  very  natural  reason  that,  being  exempt  by  law  from  ordinary 
military  duty,  they  did  not  care  to  be  amenable  to  the  requirements  of 
constant,  regular  drills  and  stated  parades,  when  possibly  their  avo- 
cations might  interpose  serious  obstacles  to  regular  attendance. 

This  was  peculiarly  the  case  of  exempt  members  engaged  in  cleri- 
cal or  professional  occupations. 

Had  they  been  allowed  to  continue  in  their  former  quasi-honorary 
status  in  their  respective  companies,  they  would  have  performed  from 
year  to  year,  such  ordinary  militaty  duty  as  they  were  able,  and 
when  they  were  able. 


63 

For  the  reasons  above  mentioned,  and  it  is  not  disputed  that  the 
present  policy  of  the  State  is  a  judicious  one,  founded  on  sound 
military  principles,  it  has  resulted,  that,  but  a  small  percentage  of  the 
members  of  the  companies  in  the  active  regiment,  would  consent  to 
continue  their  connection  with  it,  and  thus  subject  themselves  to  the 
burdens  of  ordinary  military  duty  beyond  the  time  when  the  State 
had  enabled  them  to  claim  such  exemption. 

With  "this  condition  of  affairs,  the  Veteran  Organization  of  the 
Seventh  Regiment  has,  of  course,  had  nothing  to  do ;  but  it  has 
been  able  to  enroll,  uniform,  and  retain  for  duty,  in  order  to  aid 
the  National  Guard  in  any  emergency,  many  honorably  discharged 
members  of  the  "  Seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.,"  who  would, 
otherwise  have  become  lost  in  the  mass  of  citizens. 

As  most  of  the  companies  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N. 
Y.,  to-day,  are  at  a  maximum,  notwithstanding  the  loss  by  discharge 
of  many  of  those  who  had  served  their  time,  it  will  be  perceived, 
that  there  is  no  foundation  for  the  statement,  that  the  existence  of 
the  battalion  of  the  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  has  been  to 
induce  young  men  who  would  otherwise  continue  to  perform  active 
military  duty  in  the  National  Guard,  to  take  their  discharge  from 
the  service  of  the  State,  to  join  such  organization. 

We  rejoice  at  the  present  honorable  position  of  the  active  regi- 
ment, and  that  its  ranks  are  nearly  full ;  and  we  trust  that  it  will 
continue  in  the  future  to  maintain  the  proud  reputation  it  has  held  in 
the  Militia  of  the  country  and  in  this  community  during  the  past 
sixty  years. 

BY   ORDER   OF   THE   COMMITTEE, 

L.  W.  WINCHESTER, 

Colonel  and  Chairman. 


UHIVER61TY  OF  CALiFOfVfli 

AT 

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UA 

364       Veterans   of 

7th        ihe   Seventh" 


V64         regiment, 

wat'l  guard, 

S.N.Y.     . 

veterans    c 

31       uuo      (  Til  •  • 

jj  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILI' 


000  690  970    9 


•t.  •  *T  •* 


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%,.    'jf: 
*  ^ 


UA 

364 

7th 

V64 

1884 


